Are You Kidding Yourself That You Are A Follower Of Jesus? David Field April 19, 2010
If you are not truly and one-hundred percent surrendered to Jesus, you are not with him.
Most Christians would say this is true, but never fully understanding the meaning. Think about this for a moment. Just how far would you go with Jesus? And be honest with yourself. Would you question him if he asked you to go beyond your comfort zone? Or do you have total faith in him? I am sure most would drop out at some point. Some would go further than others, but only a very select few would be willing to go all the way, maybe less than one percent. I mean FEW.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself. How many of your possessions would you leave behind for Jesus? If there is only one possession that you wouldn’t leave behind, then that one possession is more important to you than Jesus, and is therefore and idol. That is the one Jesus would ask you to leave behind.
Would you place your own comfort above following Jesus? What if you had no place to sleep? What if it meant certain death to follow him? How far would you go? If you are not willing to die to self-preservation, you are still placing yourself above God.
Here is a tough one that will stop many. How about your own good standing here on earth? Would you give up your reputation? What if everyone thinks you are a nut? Your entire family disowns you, and all your friends, and everyone you know. Would you give up your good standing in the neighborhood? Would you give up your good standing in your church? What if you are a pastor? Would you give up your church, in favor of Jesus, or would you choose church attendance? Would you hang on to the opinions of men and your reputation instead of following Jesus? Just how far would you go with Jesus?
How many people would you leave behind to follow Jesus? Is your wife more important to you than Jesus? Are your children more important to you than Jesus? Would you forsake them all for Jesus? I am not saying he is telling you to do these things, but what if? What about holidays with your family? Would you give up Christmas, or Easter with your family or church for Jesus? Or are these more important to you than him? The point is, if they are more important to you than himself, then no matter how good they may be, they are an idol to you, and come before Jesus. Consider the story of Adam and Eve in the garden. Eve was tempted, and fell for Satan’s lie. Adam knew the truth, but went along with Eve instead of God. He placed Eve as more important to him than God. This was his sin. We all know the story of Abraham and Isaac. Abraham was even willing to give up his only son at an old age with little hope for another, in obedience of God. And moreover Isaac went willingly to his assumed death for God. Would you do this? Do you think you will be with Jesus if you are not willing to go to the end of the earth with him? He may not ask you to do these things because he knows you are not willing. He will simply leave you behind. God is a god of fullness, and completeness. God does not expect you to be as good as him, but if there is but one thing you will not give up, then you place that one thing above God, and that one thing is an idol. This is the first commandment. You didn’t even get passed number one. Stop kidding yourself that you are a follower of Jesus.
Exodus 20 3Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Luke 9:23 And he said to them all,If anymanwill come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Matthew 7 13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wideisthe gate, and broadisthe way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because straitisthe gate, and narrowisthe way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.