Many years ago, my family and I went hiking on a mountain. We were told that it would take a certain amount of time to climb so we started our climb earlier in the day so that we could be back down before nightfall. Packed with granola bars and water bottles we began our ascent. Up and up we went, until we finally reached the summit. However, our climb to the top took longer than we had anticipated and we knew that we had only a little time to rest before we had to make our way back down.
The sky slowly got dimmer and darker as we neared nightfall, but we were still on our journey back down to the bottom. Eventually it became completely dark, and we could barely see the trail in front of us. With no flashlight, our rapid descent down the mountain became a slow shuffle as we struggled to see the trail. Thankfully, we met another group of hikers who took the precaution to bring a flashlight. Together we all followed the person with the light and we eventually made it back down to our vehicles.
The world is a dark place, filled with dangers and traps. There are many sins and temptations that need to be navigated around and avoided. Without Christ, we don’t have the Light to see where we are going. We struggle in the dark, in our sins and misdeeds. Without Christ we cannot get to Heaven.
In order to get there, we need to find that Someone Who has the Light. Jesus. Jesus is the Light of the world. When we follow Him, we no longer walk in the darkness of sin, but we can walk in the light.
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12
If somone is going to follow something, it means “to engage in as a calling or way of life; to pursue; to be or act in accordance with; to accept as authority.”
With lakes everywhere one goes in Minnesota, a common sight in the spring is a mother duck with several young ducklings following closely in a line behind her. Those little ducklings follow their mother everywhere she goes.
Most of us have played the game “Simon says” or “Follow the leader” as a child. The object of the game is to follow and copy what the leader does and says. When they tell you to touch your toes, you touch your toes. When they say, “Jump two times,” you jump two times. In the game, they are the leader, and you follow what they say to do.
Jesus is our Leader. It is Him that we all need to follow. It is Him that we need to copy and duplicate. Jesus teaches to love one another. So what do we need to do? Love our neighbor as ourself. Love others as Jesus has loved us. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. That is what Jesus did and teaches us to do as well.
Following someone requires that a person does the will of someone else. Where they go, you go. What they do, you do. Not what you want to do, but what they do or want you to do.
We follow Jesus, and what He did and taught. We deny ourselves the things that we want to do and do His will.
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16:24
“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Mark 8:34
Being a Christian is a daily way of life. Not one day on, one day off. We don’t live for Christ one day, and then the next do what we want. Day after day after day we follow His words. Each day, we serve Christ.
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23
The life of a Christian is centered around our Leader, Jesus Christ. Follow Him, and God will reward you.
“If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” John 12:26
Are you ready to follow?
In Christ,
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 