In other articles in this issue of The Christian we have seen various aspects of building, as outlined in the Word of God. One of those types of building concerns the building up of ourselves on our “most holy faith” (Jude 19). We find a related but slightly different illustration of building in Luke’s gospel, which reads as follows:
“Which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish” (Luke 14:28-3028For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. (Luke 14:28‑30)).
In this passage the Lord Jesus is speaking solemnly to the crowds that followed Him when He was here as a Man in this world, for many were impressed with His gracious words and His miracles. He is pointing out to them that while salvation is a gift from God, discipleship has a cost involved. Those who wanted to follow the Lord Jesus would be following a rejected Christ, and they must be prepared to give up everything else, if necessary, in order to give Him the first place in their lives. They must be ready to “hate,” not only their own closest relatives, but their own lives also, if they would be His disciples (Luke 14:2626If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26)). No doubt some found this a high price to pay, and we read in John 6:6666From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. (John 6:66) that, after the Lord Jesus had clearly revealed to the people that He must suffer and die, “many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.”
The Testimony Given
In the passage before us in Luke 14, the Lord Jesus uses two illustrations to show what was involved in following Him and the dangers that it would entail. The first of these illustrations is in building, while the second is warfare. We will not discuss warfare for the moment, but concentrate on building. Building here refers to one’s own life, and how our Christianity appears to the world around us. Will what we build be consistent with what our Lord and Master taught? Will we be seen by the world around us to be following the One whose name we claim to bear? It is instructive to notice that the building described here is a tower — something that can be seen from a long distance away. In Scripture a tower is sometimes a picture of testimony to this world.
In Luke 14, great multitudes followed the Lord Jesus, no doubt attracted by His miracles and His grace, and this brings the gospel before us. Our Lord did not come to condemn the world, but that “the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:1717For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:17)). However, as we have already mentioned, He must then bring before those multitudes the cost of following One who was rejected.
A Good Finish
Perhaps we have all seen a house or a building of some kind that was started, but then not finished. As we read in our chapter, people usually know who started the building, and man being what he is, they begin to mock those who began but were not able to finish. The sight of an unfinished building brings shame and disgrace on those responsible.
In the same way, many dear believers start out well on the Christian pathway, but then find out that the cost is high. The reproach of this world, the lack of respect, and the loss of opportunities all combine to cause the building to be abandoned. I remember such a situation. It concerned a young man who grew up in a local assembly and who started out well. He was much older than I by at least 45 years. He was involved in a Christian book room, preached the gospel, and in every way walked well as a Christian. But he was good looking, clever, a good businessman, and above all, had exemplary manners and social graces that brought him into favor with this world. He eventually abandoned his Christian service, ceased attending the local assembly, and for 40 years immersed himself in the business and social activities of this world. I am happy to tell you that later in life, when the Lord allowed him to get a serious illness that gave him only a couple of years to live, he was happily restored. But what a loss for those 40 years! I remember well how he urged his adult children not to follow the same path.
The Lord’s Strength
The question arises, Can we have sufficient resources to finish the building in our own strength? The answer is clearly, No. If we attempt in our own strength to walk the pathway the Lord has marked out for us, we will always fail. We will always leave the tower unfinished, and the world will mock. The Apostle Peter had to learn this the hard way, when he said so confidently that even if he should die with the Lord, he would never deny Him. We all know what happened, for Peter had to learn that his own resolve and strength would never stand up in this world.
What then is the answer? We need the Lord’s help and the Lord’s strength. Only He could go through all that man did to Him and remain faithful. Now He wants to give us His strength, so that we can complete the building. Peter learned this, and later in life he gave up his life for the Lord, because he walked in his Lord’s strength, not his own. Many other dear believers have finished their course, as the Apostle Paul did, because, as he said himself, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:1313I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13)). He could also tell us that the Lord said to him, “My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:99And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)). When we realize our own weakness, we look to the Lord for His strength, and then we can complete the building, for His glory.
W. J. Prost