A friend of mine, Tunch Ilkin, played fourteen seasons in the NFL, thirteen of those with the Pittsburgh Steelers. After he retired from football, Tunch led a men’s ministry in the Pittsburgh area for many years. Tunch once told me, “There are some guys who love playing football. There are others who love being football players.” Some guys loved the game. Others loved the recognition and money that came with the game. Tunch loved playing football. That was demonstrated when a local sportswriter reported that the Steelers would never win with Tunch starting at right tackle. When Tunch read that scathing critique, he practiced all the harder, put in extra workouts, and learned strategic techniques. He determined that he would prove the guy wrong. And he did. Tunch was a Pro-Bowler, is on the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team, and was inducted into the Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor.

Just as some players love the game and some love the things that go with the game, so there are people willing to follow Jesus wherever through whatever. And there are those who love the idea of being called followers of Jesus without the commitment. Check out today’s passage.

Luke 9:57-60
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

In today’s passage, two men approached Jesus and said, “I’m in, Jesus. I will follow you wherever you go. You lead the way. I’m right behind you.” Sounds pretty legit, doesn’t it? Seems like they wanted to be in the game. But Jesus knew their hearts. Jesus told them that they were unaware of the cost. To follow Jesus, these men would have to give up what others considered essential necessities. That was more than the men bargained for.

Coming to Jesus is all by grace. It is not earned or deserved. But on the other side of grace, there is a cost to following Jesus. The question is: Do we just like being called a Christian, or are we really sold out for Christ?

Father, help us to understand that there is a cost to following your Son. And help us be willing to make the earthly sacrifices to invest in eternal treasures. In Jesus’ name. Amen.