“I CAN'T be a Christian; the cost is too' great," said a young woman to me, as she shook her head despondently. She had night after night been present at some tent-meetings held in the north of London.
She had felt convicted of her sin, felt drawn to the Savior, would, indeed, like the relief of heart and conscience the gospel brings, but she knew that to be a Christian would in her particular case cost a good deal.
I replied, “If it will cost you a good deal to be a Christian, IT WILL COST YOU MORE NOT TO BE A CHRISTIAN. It may cost you your living, your friends, your prospects FOR TIME to be a Christian it will cost you outer darkness, wailing and weeping Forever not to be a Christian.”
I believe she longed to break her chains, would have given worlds to do it, but sin had made her captive hand and foot.
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And now, reader, Are you a Christian? A real, true Christian, a follower of the Lord Jesus?
If you cannot answer with a glad affirmative, will you count the cost? Indeed, you cannot count the cost, for "what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
And believe me, the gain of being a Christian far outweighs even in this world the cost of it.
The great apostle Paul speaking of his conversion testified, " But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung that I may win Christ." (Phil. 3:7, 8.)
Whatever you do, count the cost, as far as you can, of not being a Christian. Throw in your lot with the Lord Jesus. Trust Him. He will receive you. He will save you “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31).) A. J. P.