Did I say that true grace is costly? It is only relatively so.
When the world looks upon the followers of Jesus it says that He asks too much. He asked the wealthy young man to sell all his possessions, give them to the poor and follow him. (Mathew 19:16 – 21) He called his disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow him. (Mathew 16:24) Peter, the apostle who was to lead the first church according to tradition was crucified; James was beheaded; John was exiled to the island of Patmos for years; Paul was spurned by his own nation, underwent numerous beatings and floggings, imprisonments and trials before being executed.
Down the centuries even to our own days there have been martyrs, those who gave up possessions, careers, homes, good reputations and made innumerable other sacrifices for the sake of Christ and the Christian gospel.
But they are only sacrifices in the sight of the world. For even the world knows that trading one thing for another of greater value is no sacrifice. And for the Christian anything he/she gives up is nothing compared to what he receives from God in Christ. In choosing to follow Christ we value His fellowship more than the riches of this world – even if it is the fellowship of suffering. Because suffering is not pleasant, but suffering with Him is joy. “This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3 ESV) So to be with him, whether it is in prison or on a throne is heaven itself.
For most of us this does not mean facing death. For most of us life is, relatively speaking, normal. But in that normality we live for Jesus Christ. Whatever we do, we do it as to the Lord. We wish in all ways to live in a way which will be pleasing to Christ – and that is not so that he will accept us, but because he already has accepted us. We know that nothing can separate us from his love, and he will not take back the life which he has given us, or renege on the promises which he has made. But the thought of doing something which grieves him will grieve us. In short, Romans 12: 1 becomes a life verse for us: I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (ESV)
Living for Christ will affect the way we talk, the things that we do, the way we use our time and energy, the way we spend our money. We will be able to accept good things from God and enjoy them, just as a lover accepts flowers from her beloved and enjoys them all the more because she knows who has given them. But any good gifts we do receive will be held, as Amy Carmichael once said, in an open hand, so that if He decides to take them from us we will still be happy in Him.
The world may say that this is costly for us, but we will reply that:
In Him there lies a treasure all divine,
And matchless grace has made that treasure mine.
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