counting the cost

Many people mistake the cost of salvation. Because they received it freely, they think it cheap. However, the cost to Christ was immeasurable. The agony of the cross cannot even be compared to the cost of bearing the weight of the world's sin. We cannot imagine the cost of leaving His throne and glory in heaven where He received the adulation of thousands of angels for the ignominy of taking on human form and all it's weakness and sufferings. There was a cost. It was priceless.
But Christ said that we were to consider the cost as well. He warned the disciple who wanted to follow that the Son of Man had no where to lay His head, indicating the would be disciple would lose the comfort of his home. He showed us that we might lose our friends or loved ones for the sake of the kingdom. He told us to take up our cross and follow Him. There is a cost for us as well. It isn't with wealth or works that we can buy our way into the Kingdom. It is in agreeing that He has paid it all, and that if we want citizenship in His kingdom, we must exchange the self rule of our life, for allegiance to His rule and His will.
Jesus gave two parables which explain this principle to us. In Matthew 13: 44 it says, "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid, and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field". Vs. 47 " Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great price, he went and sold all he had and bought it."