Have You Counted The Cost?

Before we make any major purchases in life, we always want to know how much does it cost. How much is the initial cost and how much will it cost for maintenance? And what will the insurance costs be? Oh, if we would but use the same type of thinking in the spiritual realm, we would have a much deeper relationship with God!
We realize there is a cost of sin, but how often do we really stop to count that cost? The tempter often makes sin look very appealing. He lies about the price of it and entices us to partake. In the account of the first sin with Adam and Eve, the Bible says: “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” (Genesis 3:6). Yes it was very pleasant and the tempter lied about the price. He said “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die” Gen 3:4
Now we can easily see the horror of that sin and how far we have come down the road of sin and wickedness. Think of all the evil that has come to pass since Adam and Eve. I think if they had realized the cost of their sin, it would not have been nearly as appealing.
We can apply that same thing to our own personal life. When we face temptations, stop and count the cost. How will this affect my life, and how will it affect my loved ones? Often the cost goes much deeper than we realize. If we will just remember our Savior, Jesus Christ, and how he suffered and died for those sins, it will help us to gain an advantage on the tempter.