Say Adieu – Luke 14:33

So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

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Some say Christianity is an easy crutch for weak willed people. A salvation system for those who are afraid to die. A simple sequence of steps to salve the conscience. I say poppycock, and I don’t even use that word, ever. Those who make such claims have never read this passage in Luke or have read it and denied it’s truth and intent. When Jesus calls us to renounce our earthly possessions, those things which give us earthly security, however flimsy that security is, He is literally telling His serious disciples to bid adieu to all they own. The literal interpretation of the word renounce is to ‘say adieu’, in effect, to bid farewell to every thing we have and on which we depend. Anyone who thinks such a decision is easy is simply disingenuous. They’ve obviously never tried to even think about such a path. One can deny the biblical truths of Christianity; however, it is ridiculous to say that it is ‘easy’. I seriously wonder if those who claim such have ever read Scripture with an honest heart.

Jesus consistently calls us to count the cost of following Him. As with any important endeavor, we must be willing to examine the details, consider the personal investment and then make a decision. How silly it would be for the captain of an army to plunge into battle without ever having considered the price he might be required to pay. How ridiculous it would be for us to purchase a house without ever reviewing our income and our budget. It would be downright stupid. Whenever one reviews this entire section of Scripture beginning in v. 25, the message is clear: Jesus is seeking serious, sincere, sold-out soldiers (every good article needs some profound alliteration). The cost is high and personal. The path is not always perfectly clear as it applies to the details of following Christ. Those who accept the call of Christ lean heavily upon God’s written revelation, the Bible, and His mysterious indwelling Holy Spirit. The Spirit working within us brings to mind the written word of God and leads us in this self renouncing path of Christ. It is not always clear. It is not always easy. It is true.

The demands are high but the reward is great. Christ Himself fulfilled the call of His Father’s will with His heart focused on “the joy set before Him”. We must follow this example and do the same. The call of Christ is worth everything we invest in Him. Bid adieu to the deceptive riches of this world and say hello to life – here and forever. It is worth every penny you renounce.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.