No Discounts

 After the Allied forces stormed ashore at Normandy on D-Day, charging into deadly German fire and land mines, General Eisenhower said, "There are no victories at discount prices." It was true at Normandy. It's true in following Jesus. Beginning at the cross, it has always been expensive and victorious. The hymn writer nailed it when he said: "Must I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease, when others fought to win the prize and sailed through bloody seas?"  We all know that Freedom is not free but neither is our Faith in Jesus Christ Free. Abel’s Faith cost him his life.

Heb 11:4  By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. Enoch’s Faith changed his walk.

Heb 11:5  By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Noah’s Faith changed his work.

Heb 11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Abraham’s Faith changed his obedience.

Heb 11:8  By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Many try to just fit in, don’t rock the boat, may I remind you that if our Faith is not worth living it may not be much in our dying. Each day that you and I live we move closer to our last day; all the way through the Bible we read such verses as these

Gen 49:33  And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

Gen 47:28  And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years.

That day comes for all one day you may hear the lump in your breast is…. You have a….in your….and it inoperable. One of my good friends got that news when he was 36 and we buried him in 1988 you may ask how was his faith?  The last time I went to see him I went for the purpose of encouraging him but instead he encouraged me with his great faith. Its one thing to look at death’s door afar off but it’s another to be able to reach out and touch it and say with Job

Job 1:21  And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Has your faith in Christ changed your life? Faith is not free and a Faith that can’t change you may not be Faith at all for there are no discounts with Faith. As we come closer to the end of this year make up your mind that you will be different in the New Year and start in that direction today.