Building for Eternity | Diff's Pilgrimage Notes

Luke 14:28 (NIV)

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”

Last night, seeing my friend, Yixiu Qin’s, new studio hit me — it’s expansive and intricate, like a private art museum and luxury hotel. And he still finds time for hobbies. Meanwhile, I feel busy with the kids’ education, family, faith (though honestly, not much time spent there). Truly, envy, jealousy, and hate. Mood not great.

Thank God for His protection; even when my spirits are low, I made it to read the Bible and have my devotional time today.

Being a disciple of Christ means paying a price — that’s “giving up everything” to follow Him. Everything means all things outside of Christ.

If I don’t give up everything, like how I’m now, focusing on many things outside of Christ, doesn’t that mean I can’t be His disciple? Of course, it means I can’t be His disciple. That’s exactly what Jesus said. If I’m not worthy to be His disciple, does that mean I can’t be justified and saved? I’m unsure. Or maybe, I just don’t want to admit it.

Because, if I admit that “not giving up everything” means I can’t be a disciple, and thus can’t gain eternal life, then how many are truly saved?

There are many Christians, but few have “given up everything.”

I need to calculate the cost of following Jesus, the cost of discipleship, the cost of salvation. The gospel isn’t cheap; salvation isn’t cheap. The Lord Jesus has already paid a heavy price for me. I can’t repay God at all. Yet, I truly need to understand that this path to heaven isn’t easy; it requires counting and paying the cost.

This present life is real enough to be seen and touched but it’s incomplete, sinful, and temporary. The life in eternity, though unseen, is more real and glorious.

During morning prayer, while repenting the current state, I thought of “Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more,” and “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” These passages make me feel deeply that God’s words are true, credible, and awe-inspiring.