Matthew 16:24-27
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.”
Introduction
In the text before us, Jesus explains the paradox of discipleship. To lose life is defined. To die is to live. To deny oneself is to put the interest of the kingdom, first and foremost, in one’s life. To take up the cross means to renounce self centered ambitions. Such sacrifice results in eternal life and the fullest experience of kingdom life here and now.
This past Sunday, Pastor spoke on the parable of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price. Both stress the highest value of the kingdom and represents Jesus Christ and the salvation he offers. Kingdom dynamics states that fundamental to New Testament truth is the kingdom of heaven. Is that the kingdom of heaven is the spiritual reality and dynamic available to each person who receives Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
To receive Him, that is Jesus Christ the King, is to receive His kingly rule, not only in our life and over our affairs, but through our life and by our service and love. Focusing on Matthew 13:44-47, we note that the kingdom of heaven is like hidden treasure. It is of great value. Also, the kingdom of heaven is like fine pearls, and is worth all that one has.
The Value of the Kingdom
During his sermon, Pastor posed the question, How much is the kingdom worth to you? To value the kingdom is a personal decision, one that calls for self-denial and surrender. Jesus said in Luke 9:23, repeated in Luke, if anyone desires to come unto me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, every day, and follow me. It is a personal decision, which involves putting Christ above personal desires, sacrificing, being obedient, and submitting to the will of God.
To value the kingdom is not cheap, nor is it a casual commitment. It comes with a cost, the cost of discipleship. Jesus said in Luke 14:28, For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it.
For some, it may cost or has cost relationships. For others, a shift in personal ambition. And still, it may cost others comfort and security. Opposition and trials will be faced along with misunderstanding and even persecution. Nevertheless, we must remain faithful despite the challenges, knowing that whatever the cost, what we gain in Christ is far greater than what we surrender.
The Story Behind “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”
A perfect example of this is the story behind the song, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, and I’d like to share it with you this morning.
In 1904, an American Baptist missionary ventured halfway across the world to India and trekked up mountains toward a remote village in the East. He was told to go back, as the tribe in the village was famously violent. But the missionary ignored the warning, because even savage headhunters should have the opportunity to hear about the mercy of God.
One tribesman from the tribe of Mag Haleya heard the gospel, and he and his family received Jesus as their Savior. The chief of the village was very angry, and he had the tribesman and his family dragged before the village. The chief demanded the family stop following Jesus.
The tribesman replied, No, I have decided to follow Jesus. I am not turning back.
The chief was furious, and he killed the tribesman’s children. Again, the chief demanded that they stop following Jesus. The tribesman replied, Though none go with me, I still will follow. No turning back.
The chief showed no mercy, and he killed the tribesman’s wife. Now you will stop following this Jesus, said the chief.
The tribesman looked the chief in the eye and replied, The cross before me, the world behind me. No turning back.
The chief could not believe his ears. He killed the tribesman. The tribesman’s last words became the song of the village, and it is sung all around the world today.
It is said that because of the tribesman’s courage and determination to follow Jesus, the chief and the whole village accepted Christ as their Savior and Lord.
The Cost and the Reward
What a remarkable story. The tribesman and his family refused to denounce the great treasure they found in Jesus Christ. They greatly valued the kingdom, and it cost them everything, even their lives.
Our lives, too, must testify of the value we place in the kingdom of heaven. Just as the tribesman and his family counted everything as loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus, we as believers too must willingly count all loss because of the value we place on the kingdom.
Well, we cannot pay for salvation by selling all our worldly goods. Once we have found the treasure, which is spiritual truth hidden and missed by men, we are to be willing to give up all to possess it. Hence, our lives have and will testify of the value we place on the kingdom of God.
There are rewards for valuing the kingdom. First, we experience the presence and fellowship of Christ the King. This is priceless. Next, we experience a purposeful life, one of meaning and direction. This is invaluable. And finally, we experience eternal life and the ultimate reward of hearing Christ say, Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord. Amen.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I’d like to repeat the words of the song once again from the beginning. They state, I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back. Though none go with me yet I will follow. No turning back, no turning back. No turning back. And then, the world behind me, the cross before me.
No turning back, no turning back. I trust that this is and forever will be our resolve. No turning back by the grace of God.
The value of the kingdom. What is it worth to you?
Prayer
Shall we pray, Father, we thank you for your word. We thank you, O God, that it is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Help us to hide it in our hearts, God, that we might not sin against you.
Thank you, O God. Thank you that we’ve come this far by faith. And God, we are determined in our hearts by grace, by your grace not to turn around, O God. Help us along this Christian journey. Help us to see and to know, O God, the value, the value, O God, the value of the kingdom.
O God, help us to value it above all else. Let it be primary in our lives. We pray, in the name of Jesus.
And then may our lives exhibit our value of the kingdom each day as we go in and we come out, O God, and we go out, O God, and we interact with those on our jobs, and in our community, and in the marketplace. God, may the value of the kingdom that we have, O God, show forth, and others look upon us, O God, and see Jesus.
Look upon us, O God, and read and hear and know the gospel, O God, and they come to know you. May they come to serve you, we pray, in the name of Jesus.
We thank you. We praise you once again for your word. In Jesus’ name. Amen and amen.