It Costs Everything

By: Pastor Dalene Mmopi

My parents, who were both in business, taught us to be our own boss financially, academically, intellectually and socially. In my early twenties I co-founded a construction company, then started a real estate investing company on my own, purchasing two properties. I went to college, got a good job and bought my third residential property in Denver.

I lived as my own boss, relying on my own abilities and strengths to build what I considered a good life. To me, God was just a very good friend who would always be close to me, blessing me and protecting me and my investments. I never anticipated that success with God looks different from worldly success.

I lost my job. My savings ran out. Eventually, I had to give up my home. The people I thought cared about me, abandoned me. I spent nights sleeping in my car.

In Luke 14:26-33, Jesus describes what life with Him should look like.

"And whoever does not carry their cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:27 (NIV)

True disciples are completely sold out to God. They prioritize Him and His ways. Jesus said if we want to follow Him, we must understand that it costs everything. It costs everything we have relied on - possessions, jobs, businesses, false identities, people, beliefs, etc. Some of these may be good things but they cannot be our ultimate source and identity. They cannot sustain anyone longterm. Our loving heavenly Father is the ultimate provider, our source and the One who is more reliable than any human being could ever be.

I didn’t understand that accepting Jesus as my Savior is much more than the benefits of having all my sins erased, blessings and going to heaven someday. After this initial grace, Christianity is also picking up our own cross and following Him. It is about giving up our lives and following Him to death so we can be raised up with Him in a whole new life and thinking.

Death can be painful but we must come to a place where nothing else matters above God. In the long run you will discover that it is the best life.

Through my experiences God was teaching me what life (with Him) is all about. Your path may not look like mine. It may not look like your neighbor’s. But it will look like Luke 14:26-33 somehow.

A few years later, doors I could never have opened when I was my own boss started opening before me. I made connections I never dreamed possible. He gave me the ability to discover things I thought were above me.

We serve a God who is all powerful! He is too good for us to settle for less than He commands! I am completely sold out to Him. What about you? Would you let Him rebuild your heart's foundation today?

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" Psalms 34:8 (NKJV)