Holiness - The Cost Pt. 3

In this final section of chapter 5, J.C. Ryle gives us "some hints which may help men to count the cost rightly."

We ought to examine and compare honestly what Christianity entails: the hardships, the trials, the triumphs, and the rewards. We must wiegh in the balance our losses and our gains, the things we must give up in order to fully and completely follow our Saviour.

a) "Count up and compare," Ryle tells us, "for one thing, the profit and the loss, if you are a truehearted and holy Christian. You may possibly lose something in this world, but you willl gain the salvation of your immortal soul." See Mark 8:36

b) "Count up and compare... the praise and the blame, if you are a truehearted and holy Christian. You may possibly be blamed by man, but you will have the praise of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. You blame will come from the lips of a few erring, blind, fallible men and women. Your praise will come from the King of Kings and Judge of all the earth. It is only those whom He blesses who are really blessed." See Matt. 5:11-12

c) "Count up and compare... the friends and the enemies, if you are a truehearted and holy Christian. On the one side of you is the emnity of the devil and the wicked. On the other hand you have the favor and friendship of the Lord Jesus Christ. Your enemies at most can only bruise your heel. They may rage loudly, and compass sea and land to work your ruin; but they cannot destroy you. Your Friend is able to save to the uttermost all them that come unto God by Him. None shall ever pluck His sheep out of His hand." See Luke 12:4-5

d) "Count up and compare, for another thing, the life that now is, and the life that is to come, if you are a truehearted and holy Christian." Ryle reminds us that though we as Christians may go through trial and hardship in this life, ultimately we will spend eternity with God Almighty; all sin, suffering, pain, and wickedness will be cast out, and Satan bound. Our reward in Heaven will be far greater than the human mind can even concieve. See 2 Cor. 4:17-18

Unfortunately, man is a sinful creature. He desires to have things now, at this moment, without delay. He would rather have a life of worldy pleasure in this life for a few years, than eternal joy, peace, anbd happiness in the life hereafter. How backwards is that! It reminds me of one scene in the Interpreter's House Pilgrim's (The Progress by John Bunyan), where a contrast is shown between two boys, one named Passion, a discontented lad, and the other named Patience, who is very quiet, and does not complain like his companion. Christian, who is watching them, asks, "What is the reason of the discontent of Passion?" The Interpret answers, "The Governor of them would have him stay for his best things, till the beginning of the next year; but he will have all now: But Patience is willing to wait."

The story goes on to relate how at last, Passion was gratified and a bag of treasure given him. He rejoiced at first, and even laughed scornfully at meek Patience. But in the end, when all is spent and gone, Passion is left with naught but rags. The Interpreter explains that "the two lads are figures: Passion of the men of this World, and Patience of the men of That which is to come." Passion wants instant gratification; he yearns to have something NOW. He won't wait. Patience does, however, and as the tale goes on to tell, he reaps a much richer and more lasting reward than that which his griping and greedy fellow got.

e) "Count up and compare... the pleasures of sin and the happiness of God's service, if you are a truehearted and holy Christian. The pleasures that the worldy man gets by his ways are hollow, unreal, and unsatisfying. They are like the fire of thorns, flashing and crackling for a few minutes, and then quenched forever." Sin often comes to us, not as the evil, black, wickedness that it is, but as something appealing, something attractive. It is like the White Witch (The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe) - beautiful but deadly. And just as the attractive Lady of the Green Kirtle(The Silver Chair) transformed into a hideous serpent, sin will finally reveal its true face, and the pleasure will be gone, and your soul ensnared. On the other hand, as Ryle says, "The happiness that Christ gives to his people is something solid, lasting, and substantial. It is not dependant on health or circumstances. It never leaves a man, even in death. It ends in a crown of glory that fadeth not away." See Job 20:5; Ecc. 7:6; John 14:7

f) "Count up and compare... the trouble that true Christianity entails, and the troubles that are in store for the wicked beyond the grave." Ryle points out that while Bible reading/study, praying, repenting, believing, and holy living do require pains,self-denial, etc., "it is all nothing compared to that 'wrath to come' which is stored up for the impenitent and unbelieving. A single day in hell will be worse than a whole life spent in carrying the cross. The 'worm that never dies, and the fire that is never quenched' are things which it passes man's power to conceive fully or describe." Hell and eternal seperation from God are indeed things too horrible for the human mind to wrap around. See Luke 16:25

g) "Count up and compare, in the last place, the number of those who turn from sin and the world to serve Christ, and the number of those who forsake Christ and return to the world." Ryle declares that while on the one hand you have thousands upon thousands, on the opposite hand you've none. Many forsake the broad way and enter the narrow way, but "none who ever really entered the narrow way willl grow tired of it and return to the broad. The footsteps in the downward road are often to be seen turning out of it. The footsteps in the road to heaven are all one way." See Proverbs 4:18-19; 13:15

Ryle says that often sums like the ones he just showed are done incorrectly. He says he is quite aware of the many persons who cannot make up their minds that following Christ is worthwhile. The advatantages, disadvantages, losses, gains, etc. seem so nearly and equally balanced that thye cannot decide for the Lord. They are not doing the sums properly. As Ryle puts it, "They do not count right." "What," the author asks, "is the secret to of their mistakes? It is want of faith." He then goes on to show as examples Noah, Moses, and Paul. They could not have forsaken the pleasures, friendship, and ease of this world for the cross had they not had faith - and counted the cost.

In closing, Ryle lays down these points to help us examine ourselves and rightly and without error count the cross.

1) "... let every reader of this paper think seriously whether his religion costs him anything at present." Are you truly following Christ and His ways in all areas of your life and bearing the cross of our Lord; or have you never really counted the cost, never really considered what it means to be a true Christian? If your religion doesn't cost you anything, Ryle says, then you had bettter wake up and not rest until you have a satisfactory answer to "What does Christianity cost?" A Christianity that costs nothing gets you nothing. It is plain worthless.

2) "Think, if you want stirring motives for serving God, what it cost to provide a salvation for your soul." God's Son came down from Heaven, endured harsh treatment by the very creatures whom He created and gave life to, took on the wrath and punishment due to the very ones who nailed Him on the cross, and lay in a tomb - all so that he could give His people redemption. "Think of all this and learn that it is no light matter to possess an immortal soul. It is worthwhile to take some trouble about one's soul... it may cost much to be a Christian, but you may be sure it pays."

3) "If any reader of this paper really feels that he has counted the cost, and taken up the cross, I bid him persevere and press on." Though we may often feel faint, weary, and beaten, we must look to Jesus for comfort, and take strength, realizing that in the end, after a few more years of watching, praying, and fighting, Christ's presence and perfect company will make up for all that we go through now. Ryle says that "when we see as we have been seen, and look back on the journey of life, we shall wonder at our own faintness of heart. We shall marvel much that we made so much of our cross, and thought so little of the crown. We shall marvel that in 'counting the cost' we could ever doubt on which side the balance of profit lay. Let us take courage. We are not far from home. IT MAY COST MUCH TO BE A TRUE CHRISTIAN AND A CONSISTANT BELIEVER; BUT IT PAYS."

Persevero,

Scribe

"A mighty Fortress is our God,

A Bulwark never failing;

Our Helper He amid the flood

Of mortal ills prevailing.

For still our ancient foe

Doth seek to work us woe;

His craft and power are great;

And armed with cruel hate,

On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,

Our striving would be losing;

Were not the right Man on our side,

The Man of God's own choosing.

Dost ask who that may be?

Christ Jesus, it is He,

Lord Sabaoth His Name,

From age to age the same,

And He must win the battle.

And though this world with devils filled,

Should threaten to undo us,

We will not fear, for God hath willed,

His truth to triumph through us.

The prince of darkness grim,

We tremble not for him;

His rage we can endure,

For lo! his doom is sure;

One little word shall fell him.

That Word above all earthly powers,

No thanks to them, abideth;

The Spirit and the gifts are ours

Through Him who with us sideth;

Let goods and kindred go,

This mortal life also;

The body they may kill:

God's truth abideth still;

His kingdom is for ever."

~Martin Luther