He who casts his lot in with the people of God must prepare for loss as well as gain. He must count the cost beforehand and be ready to pay it when the day comes for payment. There is the taking up of our cross, the denying of self and forsaking all. He loses……… 1. This world. Whatever may be in it of pleasure, satisfaction, pomp or merrymaking, he loses for he cannot have both worlds. 2. His name. Perhaps he stood high in reputation with the men of this world and had a name for many things, but then loses this, for his name is cast out as evil. 3. His religion. For the likelihood is that he had a sort of religion or religiousness like Saul of Tarsus. All this past religion must be left behind. It will serve him no more. 4. His goods. This may not always be demanded to the full extent, as in days of persecution, but still he must be prepared to part with everything, counting it no more as his own. (Horatius Bonar)

There are few people in this world who count the cost and are ready for such loss as Bonar was talking about. Paul famously says “for whom I have suffered the loss of all things.” (Ph 3:8) He said he counted the loss of all things for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ my Lord. His greatest desire was to be found in Him. Moses famously chose to suffer affliction with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin, the pleasure of all the riches of Egypt, for a season. Esteeming the reproach of Christ, greater riches than all the treasures of the world (Egypt) It was faith that caused him to turn his back on the world (Heb 11-24-28)

How this flies in the face of what passes for much of modern Christianity. Their “faith,” causes them not to turn their backs on the world, but rather to pursue the pleasure of all the riches of this world. You can do that or be found in Christ but you cannot have both. One must chose between this world and the Kingdom of God. Broad is the path that most choose (speaking of Christendom here) and narrow is the path of the few. God has and always has had His remnant. You will know them by the cross on their back. You will know them by their joy in the depths of affliction. They will be known by their love for one another. There passion will be the one in whom they are found. Out of the abundance of their hearts their mouths will speak, and it wont be about the things of this world it will be about Jesus.

If your faith causes you to pursue the things of this world rather than the things of God, you are probably in some version of the word of faith movement. If you find yourself in such a place, now is the time to flee from its false premise of “faith,’ and run to the true faith in Christ alone and in His word. True faith (trust) counts the cost. True faith causes one to pick up his cross. True faith counts all loss as fleeting and but for  moment in the light of eternity. Counterfeit faith will never teach you to take up your cross. It will always point you in the direction of the treasures of this world. It will commend you to live your best life now. And if this is your path, then you should indeed eat and drink and be merry, for tomorrow you die, and not just the death of this world but rather an eternal death. Choose this day whom you will serve.