The cost of folllowing Jesus

In Matt 8:34, Jesus talks about the cost of being His disciples.  It is a steep and life changing cost.  If a person is not willing to give everything over to Christ they are not worthy of Him.  You must be willing to give everything to Christ because He gave everything to purchase yours and mine salvation.  In John 3:16, we learn that God loved each one of us so much that He sent His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  Jesus'' sacrifice is free but it cost Him everything to give us our salvation.  Jesus in this verse says that if you want to follow Him you must deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him.  This verse tells us that we have to be willing to give up our hopes, dreams, desires, past, present and future to follow Him.  We also must be ready to sacrifice all to follow Him.  Recently, I finished a book on the Christians who live in North Korea.  This is a country where if you become a Christian it could mean imprisonment or even death, yet multitudes have been willing to give up everything to follow Christ.  Why, would they be willing to do this?  It is because they know that only Jesus Christ can offer both eternal and abundant life.  They willingly give up all to serve Jesus.  What have you given up for Jesus?  Most in Canada know nothing about self sacrifice and following Jesus.  It shows by our prayer lives, Bible reading and Church attendance.  Here is a thought, One day you will have to give an account of your life to Christ.  Will you be able to say, "I gave up everything to follow you or not?"  Today make your choice because someone in your world is wanting to see a real Christian, it might as well be you.