An advertisement for a drive-in movie about the life of Jesus said: “Come and experience the life of Christ all from the comfort of your car.”

That doesn’t seem to be the kind of life Jesus says we can expect if we choose to follow him. He promises that we will have trouble in this world (John 16:33). Jesus teaches that we can expect to be insulted, persecuted and have people speak evil against us (Matthew 5:11). He even goes so far as to say, “…If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24).

Jesus expects us to deny ourselves and put to death anything in our lives that prevents us from truly following him. Far from a life of comfort, Jesus paints a picture of striving against the flow of the world around us. Truly following Jesus is anything but a life of ease.

We American Christians tend to lose sight of the cost of true discipleship. Is following Jesus costing you anything? Anything at all? Have you ever paid a price—mentally, emotionally, financially, physically, etc.—for having decided to follow Jesus?

If you are living a comfortable life, you need to look in the mirror. Check to see if there is a cross on your back.