Count The Cost Of Quitting?

COUNT THE COST OF QUITTING? CAN WE AFFORD TO QUIT? QUITTING HAS CONSEQUENCES ---I QUIT!

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

TEXT:

Deut.30:19... I call on heaven and earth to record this day against you, that

I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore CHOOSE

LIFE, that you and your children may live.

Joshua 24:15 ... CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE?

Today, I ponder CONSEQUENCES OF QUITTING?

We cannot underestimate the power of choices and our attitudes, as to where we

are? And where we will end?

Today’s choices can have eternal consequences.

LET US CONSIDER A NEW TESTAMENT QUITTER NAMED DEMAS...

Demas was a co-worker of Paul and made some missionary trips with Paul

when Paul was first thrown in jail. (Philemon 1:24)

Colossians 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.

2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed

unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

Bible records record that Demas DESERTED the faith and Apostle Paul, because

he developed a love for the world... PLEASURE, IT WAS EASIER...

WATCH THE LIFE OF JOHN MARK... HE WORKED WITH THE BEST...

JOHN MARK QUIT, BUT HE GOT UP AND TRIED AGAIN...

Acts 12:12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother

of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

John Mark's mother was a lady named Mary, one of Jesus' first coverts.

Mary helped Paul in his early ministry, and lead her brother to Christ.

John Mark's uncle was a man named BARNABAS, Paul's friend.

JOHN MARK WENT ON A MISSIONARY JOURNEY WITH PAUL AND UNCLE BARNABAS

Acts 12:25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their

ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

JOHN MARK QUIT --- HE LEFT PAUL AND BARNABAS AND RETURNED HOME,

WHEN THE GOING GOT ROUGH.

WHILE PAUL AND BARNABAS WERE A GREAT MISSIONARY TEAM...

BARNABAS SAID GIVE THE KID A SECOND CHANCE --- PAUL SAID NO!

THIS WAS A SHARP CONTENTION...

Acts 15:37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia,

and went not with them to the work.

BARNABUS WAS RIGHT, PAUL WAS WRONG...FOR LATER PAUL WAS RECONCILED

AND CALLED JOHN MARK A GOOD PROFITABLE LEADER...

2 Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable

to me for the ministry.

THOMAS MADE A VERY BAD CHOICE AND HIS NAME WAS CHANGED...

John 20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them

when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the

Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails,

and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side,

I will not believe.

Thomas was known as Didymus, until one day he made a poor choice and skipped

a prayer meeting.

His last name shall be changed forever ... today we know Thomas the Doubter.

One choice opened several other doors. Will your choices slide?

Perhaps, you have developed the skill to walk on the edge of a slippery brink and

come to victory by an ever so small margin.

Can your children walk the tight rope and not fall? The grandchildren?

Can we gamble with life?

Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose

his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Can't you see, others follow you?

Your choices will have consequences.

NOAH COULD HAVE QUIT? I AM SURE HE THOUGHT ABOUT IT?

Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Sure, he could have quit.

Noah was 480 years old, when God gave him the plans of the ark.

Why did God wait until Noah was 480?

Maybe, Noah was a slow learner?

Maybe Noah had to learn to not quit when big projects are assigned to you?

I cannot understand why God waited to tell Noah his purpose until he was 480?

Noah means rest? Yet, he had an impossible job?

Did Noah ever want to quit? SURE!

The ARK was the size of 75 average houses of today?

Longer than a football field? Almost 5 stories high? 75 feet wide?

All of this was assigned to a poor 480 year old man with 3 sons?

Need I remind you, there were no Lowe’s or 84 Lumber Stores?

Need I remind you there were no chain saws, no power saws, no power tools,