Locals call it “The Road to Nowhere,” but its official name is Lakeview Drive. It’s a scenic six-mile stretch overlooking Fontana Lake in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Bryson City, North Carolina. After the road goes through a 1200-foot-long tunnel blasted out of a granite mountainside, it abruptly stops. The government had spent millions of dollars until environmental concerns discovered later ended the project.
Jesus, who was a carpenter by trade, once told a construction parable about counting the cost of following Him. “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower,” He asked. “Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” (Luke 14:28). Another parable follows about a king who considers the cost of going to war, and it makes the same point. Speaking to the “large crowds . . . traveling” with Him (v. 25), Christ wanted them to understand that there was a cost to sincerely believing in and following Him.
Following Jesus only because of what He can do for us is a “road to nowhere.” But following Him for Him—turning daily from sin and self-focus to live for Him and His kingdom (carrying our “cross,” as He put it in v. 27)—changes everything. The cost must be counted. But He’s worth it.
What has believing in and following Jesus cost you? Why is nothing worth more than truly knowing and following Him?
Beautiful Savior, please help me live for You more than anything else. Nothing could ever compare with the goodness of knowing You!
For further study, read No Matter the Cost.
Jesus said it would require self-denial and sacrifice to follow Him (Luke 14:26-27, 33; see 9:23-24). Christ wants us to consider carefully the radical commitment He demands. To “hate” (14:26) family and one’s own life is hyperbolic language, which means that no one is to take precedence over Jesus (Matthew 10:37-39). The rich young ruler wouldn’t pay that price (Luke 18:18-24). Peter exemplified the high cost of discipleship in his outburst: “We have left all we had to follow you!” (v. 28). There’s a cost to following Christ, but those who’ve committed to following Him will be blessed and “will have eternal life in the world to come” (v. 30 nlt).
