I want to speak to you on the cost of not following Christ.
[Mark 8:34-38 KJV] “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel‘s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
I am convinced beyond any doubt that any man who refuses to follow Jesus Christ shall lose his soul and be eternally damned.
This is because;
1. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. No man can go to the Father except by Him:
The Bible tells us in John 14:6 that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the father but by Him. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”. Anyone who refuses to follow Christ will be damned and doomed. There is no other way or truth or life to the father. Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father.
2. There is no name given under Heaven among men by which men ought to be saved except the name of Jesus Christ:
Acts 4:12 teaches that “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
3. Only those who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved:
See Romans 10:13. I want us to make that decision right now! Decide right now that we will follow Jesus Christ no matter what it costs. Do not let anyone deceive you. We will lose our souls if we refuse to follow Jesus Christ. Indeed, we have not gained anything if we gain the whole world and lose our souls. It is not worth it to gain all the oil in Saudi or all the Diamonds in Liberia and Botswana or all the gold in Ghana at the detriment of your souls. If there is anything you must seek to gain, it is your soul.
In the same teaching the Lord reveals what it means to follow Him. What then does it mean to follow Christ?
In order to follow Christ, you must;
1. Accept Him, His way of life, and His teachings as the way, the truth, and the life:
He stated without mincing words that, whosoever will be ashamed of Him and His words; will never be mentioned to His Father and the angels. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you must not be ashamed of Him or His words. You must should that it is an honour to know and be known of Him. You must be a “proud” patron of Christ and His words. You must accept Him and His word as the truth.
2. Deny yourself:
The self has craving and lust. There are things the self wants and I believe that you must deny your self. Put Christ first and not your own cravings. Deny yourself must beat your body; put your body under. Many people have missed the way because they could not tame self and the flesh.
3. Carry your cross:
To carry your cross is a readiness to die if necessary. You must be willing to lose energy, resources, money, and possibly your life. That is what it means to carry your cross. You must be willing to even die. That is what it means to follow Christ. You must be ready die if need be.
Stay blessed, I love you
Pastor Simpe Bediako
