What will my faith cost me?

What will my faith cost me?
I spoke to a very dear friend during this week and was confronted by the above question. My friend told me about his brother that was flying to a certain country in the middle east during a time that Christians were openly executed, and this made news headlines.
While flying to this country he was handed the standard immigration questionnaire that needs to be completed before going through customs. One pertinent question on this document was; “What is your Religion” As he sat on the plane he realised how easy it is to say none or something like that but can he deny Christ? He proudly wrote “Christian” after some careful consideration.
This made me think. Am I willing to die for my relationship with Jesus? This is not the first time I am confronted with this question and I know my answer. Do you know the answer? Have you ever calculated the cost of your faith? Have you ever had to suffer for your faith in Jesus?
Please do not think I’m pointing any fingers, but we live very comfortable lives. Most of us don’t have to drive more than 10 minutes to go to church or lately we can just sit in bed and listen to the church service on Sunday. Nothing wrong with that either, and circumstances might force us to this. But, what will happen if suddenly our lives are at risk because we love and confess Jesus Christ as our saviour.
Is my relationship with and my love for Jesus Christ so strong that I will die for Him? I am reminded of Luke 14:28:
“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?”
Can we write Christian knowing this might cause us to lose our live?
For me, I can sing along with the famous song “I have decided to follow Jesus”. Please read the story behind this song below:
‘I Have Decided to Follow Jesus’ is a Christian hymn originating from India. The lyrics are based on the last words of a man in Garo, Assam.
About 150 years ago, there was a great revival in Wales. As a result of this, many missionaries came to north-east India to spread the Gospel. The region known as Assam was comprised of hundreds of tribes who were primitive and aggressive head-hunters
Into these hostile and aggressive communities, came a group of missionaries from the American Baptist Missions spreading the message of love, peace and hope in Jesus Christ. Naturally, they were not welcomed. One missionary succeeded in converting a man, his wife, and two children. This man’s faith proved contagious and many villagers began to accept Christianity.
Angry, the village chief summoned all the villagers. He then called the family who had first converted to renounce their faith in public or face execution. Moved by the Holy Spirit, the man instantly composed a song which became famous down the years. He sang:
“I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back.”

Enraged at the refusal of the man, the chief ordered his archers to arrow down the two children. As both boys lay twitching on the floor, the chief asked, “Will you deny your faith? You have lost both your children. You will lose your wife too.”
But the man sang these words in reply:
“Though no one joins me, still I will follow. Though no one joins me, still I will follow. Though no one joins me, still I will follow. No turning back, no turning back.”
The chief was beside himself with fury and ordered his wife to be arrowed down. In a moment she joined her two children in death. Now he asked for the last time, “I will give you one more opportunity to deny your faith and live.”In the face of death the man sang the final memorable lines:
“The cross before me, the world behind me. The cross before me, the world behind me. The cross before me, the world behind me. No turning back, no turning back.”
He was shot dead like the rest of his family. But with their deaths, a miracle took place. The chief who had ordered the killings was moved by the faith of the man. He wondered, “Why should this man, his wife and two children die for a Man who lived in a far-away land on another continent some 2,000 years ago? There must be some remarkable power behind the family’s faith, and I too want to taste that faith.”
In a spontaneous confession of faith, he declared, “I too belong to Jesus Christ!” When the crowd heard this from the mouth of their chief, the whole village accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
The song is based on the last words of Nokseng, a man from Garo tribe of Assam (now Meghalaya and some in Assam), India. It is today the song of the Garo people.
Source: Dr. P.P. Job in ‘Why God Why’

The true story behind the song ‘I have decided to follow Jesus’