I just wanted to finally write out some thoughts I had during our youth winter camp back in 2008. the theme for the camp was the cost, and our speaker did a pretty good job of describing the cost of following Christ. He gave us some great questions to ask ourselves and pointed out some common idols that try and disguise themselves as decent things in our lives. But as I listened to these two sermons I couldn't help but think that one more sermon to rap the whole series up was needed. I would have called it "The reward! This whole camp was spent looking at and talked about the cost, but never the reward, never about Jesus! We may have hinted at it, but Jesus is the reason we pay that cost. As I sat and thought about this I felt like God has been putting this whole topic on my heart for the last 2 years in relation to paying the cost for missions, and so a number of verses jumped into my mind, Phillipians 3:7-8 where Paul talks about "counting everything as loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus", in Genesis 15:1 God tells Abram: "Don't be afraid, I AM your shield, Your very great reward", and then in Psalm 34:10 "...those who seek the Lord lack no good thing". Even from Jesus in Hebrews 12:2 we see that Jesus, "for the joy set before him endured the cross!" Troubles and tribulations and even death may come, but the Bible makes it so clear, the reward is why we pay the cost! Luke 12:32 made this point clear to me. it says: "Do not be afraid little flock, for your father has been pleased to give you the kingdom, sell your possessions and give to the poor, Provide purses for yourself that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted." When I think about my idols, or all that I will give up to go on the mission field, its not the cost that I am thinking about, its the reward. Its the fact that as I give more of my time and attention to Christ He will make it worth infinitely more than I can imagine.