It’s always good to start out the Lords day with a hymn, and is there any better then I have decided to follow Jesus its on page 454 in the hymnal here on my desk, (although I doubt that will do any one else much good.) This morning churches will close their services with this song all over the country, and life changing decisions will be made. But as we pause and think about it what does it truly mean to follow Jesus, to become his disciple, to become a Christian.
This week I was teaching a lesson Wednesday night on the call of Elisha (1 Kings 19: 19-21). Which made me think of the story of the Rich Young Ruler (Matthew 19:16-23). Through the examples in these to stories, I think we can at least get an idea of how to start to follow Jesus.
The first story I’d like to look at is that of the Rich young ruler, I’d encourage you to flip your Bibles to Matthew 19:16-26 to read the full account there, as we won’t have time now to examine each verse. As the story goes a man came to Jesus and asked him how he could have eternal life. Christ then took him to the Ten Commandments and asked him if he obeyed each one (Maybe Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron are on to something) the man however responded with a resounding "Yes, I have" now normally we would respond with an open Bible and Romans 3:23. But Christ responded in a different way in verse 21 Jesus said "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me". The man went away sad because he had many positions. First I love the question by Jesus, as the man falls right into the trap, by being unwilling to give up everything for Christ, he shows he has not kept the commandments because money had become more important then God to him. Second, we see a man who was unwilling to pay the price to follow Jesus. Did Jesus really care if he gave everything up, I doubt it, but it was his hears attitude that he would not.
Next let’s take a look at the other side of the coin, and then we’ll draw some conclusions. In 1 Kings 19:19-21 we see the call of Elisha. Let’s take a look at that account here;
19 So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, "Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you."
And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?"
21 So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.
We can gain an understanding on Elisha by reading this passage. First he wasn’t expecting the call, but was excited to get it. It says he left his oxen and ran after Elijah. Second Elisha probably had money. It says he’s out plowing with 12 yoke of oxen, I’m not sure what oxen, yokes and ploughs cost in those days, but my guess would be this must be unusual for it to be specifically mentioned. And finally Elisha was willing to give it all up to follow the Lord. I am excited about this part of the account, probably because I did not remember it. But Elisha kills a yoke of oxen and cooks it over his ploughs. He is in this act not only having a celebration feast with his family and friends, but is symbolic of leaving his old life behind. He kills his oxen, burns his plough, kisses his parents goodbye; and leaves to follow Jesus.
Now some of you may be getting nervous about now. You’re thinking I can’t believe he’s telling me to kill my cows and serve my Pastor. Don’t worry that’s not the case. But it is a case of attitude. If we are willing to follow Jesus do we put things ahead of that? If you were called to do so, would you honestly give up all your money to follow Jesus? Would you give up your home, your cars, and your job to follow you’re your Lord. Could you kiss you friends and extended family goodbye never to see them again, in order to minister to those who need you elsewhere?
Where does our heart lie this morning? Have we broken the First Commandment, and most important commandment today? Have we placed things as more important then our relationship then God? Would we rather sleep then attend Sunday school, would we rather watch TV then spend time with the lord in devotions. Would we rather spend a Wednesday night watching a ball game then at prayer meeting? Have we truly decided to follow Jesus in every aspect of our life?
God may convict us of different things at different times in our life. But if we pause today and can think of something in our lives God is telling us to leave behind, let me encourage you to do so. And to remember the words of the hymn writer:
I have decided to follow Jesus ...No turning back, no turning back
"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."
