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COUNT THE COST

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 29, 1879

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 53, No. 22.

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COUNT THE COST.

By Jno. Hackett

A MAN who intends to start in business, if he is wise, will first look around and conclude where would be a good location for his particular employment and whether it would pay a good dividend on the money and labor expended. He will next ascertain whether he has sufficient capital to carry on the business. So should any one who intends to live a Christian life count the cost and see whether it will pay. This is the truth that Jesus intended to teach in his instruction relative to the building of a tower and in the case of a king going to battle. Luke 14: 28, 31.
It is evident that unless a person be able to finish the work that he commences, it will profit him nothing. Jesus says, “He that endureth to the end shall be saved;” and, “No man having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of Heaven.” The reason so many professed Christians backslide is, that when they heard the word they received it gladly, but did not reckon the trials they would have to bear,—did not count the cost,—and so when tribulations come for the word’s sake, they are offended; whereas had they counted the cost they would have been prepared.
The Christian has joys and sorrows in this life; so also has the worldling. The common impression is that the Christian has more of the latter and less of the former than the worldling. Granting such to be the case, let it be borne in mind that the Christian looks beyond this life for his reward; but all the hope the worldling has is in this world. Now let us take an inventory of the resources and liabilities, or helps and hinderances, of the Christian and worldling, and balance the accounts of their losses and gains, and see how they compare.

CHRISTIAN.

RESOURCES OR HELPS. LIABILITIES OR HINDERANCES.
1. A God-given intellect, and power to choose between right and wrong. 2. The Holy Spirit and the grace of God to help in every time of need. 3. The Bible, pointing out duty and presenting precious promises of reward to the faithful. 1. Our own evil natures. 2. The enemy of all righteousness. 3. The allurements of the world and its pleasures. 4. Often the ties of natural affection.
LOSS. GAIN.
1. A few fleeting, fancied, or imaginary pleasures. 2. The friendship of the world. 1. Eternal life. 2. The approbation of God. 3. Eternal pleasures. 4. Peace of mind, and a conscience void of offense.

WORLDLING.

RESOURCES OR HELPS. LIABILITIES OR HINDERANCES.
1. Our own evil disposition. 2. The enemy of all righteousness. 3. Companions in the same way. There are not many hinderances. The way he travels is a downward road. Occasionally there is a warning voice, and a light that shows the danger ahead.
LOSS. GAIN.
1. Eternal life. 2. The approval of all the good. 3. Peace of mind. 4. All hope of Heaven. 1. Eternal death. 2. Punishment for all evil deeds done. 3. A few worldly pleasures that generally leave a sting behind.
These items cannot be expressed in dollars and cents; but they are as true as though demonstrated with mathematical precision. Reader, please balance these accounts in your own mind and apply the results to your own case, and decide which you will choose. On one side is God, eternal life, and happiness forever; on the other is the devil, punishment, darkness, and eternal death.
If you are young and have life before you, pause and consider well which road you take. Count the cost. Ask yourself the question, “Will it pay?” If you have not started on the Christian’s journey, consider whether the road you are traveling leads. Count the cost. Look at the inevitable final result. What real advantages do you have over the Christian in this life? He can enjoy some things in life as well as you, besides he has joys the world knows not of. If you have sorrows, you must bear them alone. The Christian can cast his care upon One who careth for him, and can go to a “friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” If the Christian’s religion be not true, he loses nothing of very great value; if it is, he gains everything, and the worldling loses everything. Balance the account and see which will pay. Count the cost! Count the cost!
If you have started in the good way, and begin to feel discouraged and almost ready to turn back on account of the roughness of the way, pause, and ask yourself the questions, Will it pay? What will I gain? What will I lose? Count the cost.
There are but two roads. You must take one or the other. Consider well what is at the terminus of each. Remember what help you may have in the upward way, and what you would have in the downward way.
The promise of salvation is only to those who endure to the end. Keep your eye fixed upon the mark of the prize, and have respect unto the recompense of reward. Prove faithful to the end, and you will have an abundant entrance into the joy of your Lord. Jno. Hackett.
Wells, Minn.