The other night before we went through the Panama Canal we watched a movie about the building of the modern marvel. The movie was a very old NOVA Documentary “A Man, a Plan, a Canal - Panama.” In the movie the early concept of a canal linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, via a 50 mile stretch of land in Panama was discussed.
A Frenchman named Ferdinand de Lesseps, had just be celebrated for his work in constructing the Suez Canal, and now desired to create a similar canal through Panama. Around 1882 his company began the arduous work of building the canal. Lesseps did not understand the land or the barriers that Panama would present those who undertook this expedition.
What he didn’t know was that Panama has two seasons, dry and wet. The river that ran across his path for the canal would raise 40 feet during the rain season. Furthermore, the dense jungle, saw grass, poisonous snakes, and disease were not foreseen as barriers to the completion of the project.
At that time medical science had not discovered the cause of Malaria and Yellow Fever to be linked to mosquitos who swarmed around the stagnant pools of water. During the Spanish-American War medical science discovered the link between the insect and the disease, but for Ferdinand de Lesseps, it was not in time to save the project or the men.
Between the Yellow Fever, snake bites, and rough conditions over 20,000 people died in the first few years of the work, with little progress on the canal. It is said that out of the eight nuns who worked in the hospital only two survived. The environment wrecked havoc in so many ways.
On top of the huge loss of life, the company went bankrupt long before a quarter of the canal was complete. Lesseps would spend his last days at home, a laughingstock of France due to the failure of the Canal. The word “Panama” became used to describe a swindle of failure in France.
Why do I mention this historical fact about the Panama Canal because it illustrates an illustration once given by Jesus in Luke 14:28-30. Jesus said:
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’”
Do you see the parallel between the man Jesus mentioned and Ferdinand de Lesseps who failed to properly plan the project? Both failed due to poor planning. Both were ridiculed because of their failure.
Yet, Jesus is not talking about building literal buildings, while this does apply, but about spiritual foundations, rooted in Christ Jesus himself. The bigger picture of Luke 14:25-35, Jesus speaks of the cost of discipleship, and heavy cost of following him. The assessment according to Jesus is that we examine the cost to follow him, commit to that cost daily, and press on even when the going seems impossible. This cost assessment explains the deep personal toil each Christ follower must pay to be a disciple.
For Ferdinand de Lesseps the cost was financial, human life, and reputation. Many years later, the Americans would overcome the struggles of the French and complete the job.
Tomorrow, we will explore the cost for us to bridge the gap between us and Jesus.
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