Skip to main content

Paradise Ain't Cheap

God has had us in a season of faith in regards to our finances. God is providing but it is keeping us in prayer.  Just to be real, I had a moment in a store today. I had gone in to buy a Christmas present for someone. As I was there, I thought back to when we had more money and how I would have been able to spend more and get a nicer gift for that someone. Right as I was having a pity party and a momentary "this really stinks!", I looked up and saw a piece of art for sale. It was decorative wall art. It obviously was to go in a beach house and it said "Paradise ain't cheap."

I immediately thought of the story of the rich, young ruler (Luke 18). God told him to sell everything he had, give the money to the poor, and follow Him. The guy didn't do it and he walked away sad. Jesus wanted the guy to make an eternal investment and wanted his obedience. Costly obedience.

I smiled when I saw that art. It was like a sign from heaven reminding me "Paradise ain't cheap." This life of obedience we live will cost us. It isn't cheap to inherit eternal life. Oh yes... It's free in the sense that Jesus paid it all and we could never do anything in our strength to get life abundantly. Free but it will cost you everything. Denying yourself, taking up your cross, following Christ, living sacrificial obedience is not cheap. It's costly. But totally worth it.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What if Jesus meant what He said? - "If you love me..."

The thought occurred to me today.   What if Jesus meant what He said? He said a lot.   A whole lot. And if He is God, then we should listen to what He said. If He is our Lord, then we should listen to what He said. I want to go on a journey of exploring what He said.   He is the Word and He is God.   I think what He said is worth exploring and worth living by.   The first thing I want to look at is in John 14.   This will give the premise for the entire journey of seeking out what Jesus said.   Because if Jesus meant this… then the rest of what He said is VERY important. Jhn 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Jhn 14:21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." Jhn 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come ...
Post a Comment
Read more

A thought

There are easy days. And then there are difficult days. This is my reassurance: God is constant and He is always faithful. “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” – 2 Timothy 2:13
Post a Comment
Read more

Ezekiel 14:12-23

I read this passage last night. I have seen a verse or two about it... but the entirety of it gripped me when I read it. I had never thought about it as a principle. "When a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness..." Then I was blown away by the men God used as examples. Noah, Daniel, Job. Men whose lives have a tremendous impact on the end-time saints. To be the only ones delivered in your righteousness. What was it like to watch an entire culture that God was not pleased with and see his judgment poured out accordingly. Righteous men - Noah, Daniel, Job - who stood, even when they stood alone. And yes, all three of those men, stood in their righteousness alone. They all faced scoffing and hatred of them. There are lessons in all of these men's lives. God judges nations. He judges lands that sin against the Lord in persistent unfaithfulness. But there are righteous ones in the midst of judgment. Eze 14:12-23 The word of the LORD came again to me...
Post a Comment
Read more