The Extremely High Price of Freedom

USS Cowpens. Image courtesy Flickr.

Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

--Luke 14:27 (ESV)

During World War II, my father served on the USS Cowpens in the Pacific Theater. Having enlisted at 17, lying about his age, he wanted to live an adventurous life that young men like him dreamed of. He got more excitement than he expected. Kamikaze pilots swarmed the air around his aircraft carrier, sending a flaming bomber crashing onto its deck. His friend was a pilot who perished in those flames. Dad also learned that the “enemy” has faces. His heart went out to starving people in Okinawa, giving away some of his rations to women and children gaunt from wartime starvation. My father grew up fast during this time. What he expected to be an adventure became an eye-opening glimpse into reality: freedom comes at an exorbitant cost.

Much like casualties of war paid a high price for our freedom, so do we who follow our Savior, who paid the ultimate cost for our freedom. In Luke 14, Jesus speaks to a crowd traveling with Him about the costs of following Him. His disciples left family and well-paying jobs to travel and study under Jesus’s teachings. They didn’t always have a place to stay, so they often slept out in the open. The notion of being disowned by family in a culture built around helping each other likely shocked some of them.

When we accept Christ, we expect to live a grand adventure with the Lord. Although life with God is always an adventure, our eyes eventually open to the true cost of our freedom in Christ. Jesus calls us to count the costs of following Him. Our friends and family may disown us. Coworkers, bosses, teachers, and classmates may harass us at work, school, and other places because of Jesus Christ. We may miss that promotion or get a lower grade on tests. God could call you to ministry, a big sacrifice, and your family may try to talk you out of it. When we follow Jesus closely, we give up many things for the one Who gave all.

Questions for Reflection:

1. What price have you paid for following Christ as a believer?

2. What is God calling you to do for Him that causes opposition from people you know?

3. What will you give up to fully follow Jesus Christ?