WORLDLY MEN OF FAITH

GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF JESUS:


   Luke 9:57-62 has an account of people who came up to Jesus saying "I want to follow you".  One of the first responses that Jesus gave is that of worldly goods. He said " Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head. And then He said unto another "Follow Me" but he said Lord suffer me first to go bury my father and Jesus said unto him let the dead bury their dead, but go and preach the Kingdom of God. And another also said Lord I will follow thee but let me go first and bid farewell which is at my home in my house and Jesus said unto him" No man having once put his hand to the plow, and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God".

  This entire scripture is pointed to those of us who allow the cares and concerns of this world to dictate our actions in Christ.  It is a sign to God that we are not singularly minded enough to be serious about what we are committing to.  There are a great number of people today who are distracted by the things of this world. There are those who are so distracted that they never can even get started serving the Lord for the busy work they feel they need to do first.


There is no trick question when Jesus extends His invitation to follow Him.  It is a clear choice and one which many have struggled with over their lives.  I know that I have done great battle over the desire to just live my life here without the burden of the world on my shoulders and yet God has never let me go for one moment no matter how much I have struggled.

  There are greater battles than we can imagine waged over the soul who lives partly in the Kingdom and partly in the world.  The longer we stay in that state the more likely we are to lose both our freedom of choice and our very lives in the Kingdom. Eventually, we will be driven mad with the cost of the process of living that way.  Christ offers us a one-way ticket which once chosen is either accepted wholly or is cast aside. There is no lay-a-way plan with God where we can reserve our ticket ahead of time and pay later.  Jesus spoke very openly about taking the time to count the costs before starting to build because from the time we make that decision the world starts watching very carefully every move we make in the process. Have you made a plan of commitment to Christ where you can truly give yourself to God without hesitation?  Have you thought about the fact that there will be nowhere that you will be able to hide from the eyes and the hate of this world? Do you realize that the commitment to Christ means that your life is no longer centered here but is now in the Kingdom of Heaven and all of your concentration should be on getting back to the Kingdom?

  There isn't really any doubt that God wants us to exchange the life we have now for the one that He has promised us because if we can do that then we are fully committed to our belief in Him as God. The idea that we can somehow have both this temporary life and do everything we want in it and also have all of the promises that God has given us if we obey His word is just silly.  We are very actively involved in this process of salvation no matter if we want the responsibility for our lives or not...simply put it becomes our choice; our decision about God and the truth that matters.  What will you do with Jesus Christ?  May you richly bless God through your life in Him.


THE UNWORTHY SERVANT