COST of Obscurity

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, “This man began to build and was not able to finish.”

Luke 14:28–30 (ESV)

There is a cost to everything in life. If approached with thoughtful consideration, accurate information, and measured determination, the risks can be minimized to a point where the potential for gain is realized. While that might sound like the lead-up to a hedge fund commercial, the truth is, nothing good comes without effort. Can we bear the burden of that price to follow Him, or would we rather cling to the world and its deteriorating possessions and temporary connections? Let’s look at four elements of COST.

CALLING

The calling is where this adventure begins. The calling involves an encounter with God that is undeniable. To accept that encounter there must be a posture of obedience to the call. This season is a gift from God, and He will not force it upon you. 

OBSCURITY

There is no getting around this, but seasons of obscurity cause us stress. It is like expecting someone to remain calm about calculus. It is surely going to make you smarter, but there is little joy in the process. Seasons of obscurity prepare us for the next phase in our life’s ministry. If we are going to work within the realities of following Christ, then we must accept that there is a cost to this supernatural association. Part of that cost is transformational change. 

STABILIZATION

Your time in the wilderness has caused you to reconsider so many facets of your life. Most things you assumed were solid and immovable became uncertain aspects of all. That is one of the beautiful things about obscurity—you don’t know the true you until you have first lost who you thought you truly were. We become stable once we have either understood that it is okay to let them go, or they were forced from our grip. In that void of self-satisfaction, we come to Christ either out of desire or despair. 

TRANSFORMATION

Who you become in this new season of life depends on what anointing God has activated within you. There can be no spirit-filled transformation (glory to glory) unless you embrace the work God has prepared you for. Your new you has been prepared by God the Father, but ultimately it is your choice whether to accept or reject the activation of His anointing. There is a COST to everything in this life and having the light of Christ as your guide ensures that you remain on the right path.

CALL TO ACTION:

Have you counted the COST to follow Christ? Is that a price you are willing to pay?