The Cost of Following ChristExemplo

Handing It Over To God

At 18, I had no idea of what it would cost me to follow Christ. The Sunday I received Christ, I told my dad of my decision. He replied, ‘A little religion is good, but don’t take it too seriously.’

However, I grew in my relationship with Christ, and friends and acquaintances noticed changes in me. Some opposed me, but I realised this was part of the cost of serving Christ. Matthew 16:24 spoke to me: ‘If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.’ One who follows Christ is dead to any opposition, but living this is something else. As I did, though, and forgave, friends noticed, and it gave me opportunities to share Jesus with them.

However, certain people reported this to my parents in ways that upset them, and, one evening, my father gave me an ultimatum. When I tried to explain that I couldn’t stop following Jesus, my dad, a champion boxer, hit me twice. My face was so swollen I couldn’t go out for four days, and my parents forbade me to see Christian friends or attend church. I wanted to leave but felt I needed to stay. This was the cost of following Christ. It was tough – so much I nearly quit – but I forgave and asked God to bless my parents. Ten days later, my dad apologised. Within a month, he received Jesus. My mother received Christ years later, but my father asked me to conduct her funeral with her priest, and many relatives followed Christ. When we do things God’s way, He ‘works all things together for good’ (Romans 8:28) and, when we forgive, that person is in God’s hands to deal with.

Written by DAVID SMETHURST