Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story…
Back in 2001, I was driving with my family through Flagstaff Arizona in my old van. They were doing a lot of construction in the town, and the main highway had been reduced to one lane of traffic. I remember it was extremely hot, as traffic was at a standstill. My window was open trying to catch a cool breeze on that hot summer day, when finally an old car drove up next to me. The young boy inside smiled at me and told me to read the sign on the back of his car. When he pulled forward, it said, pilot car, “follow me“
I kept right behind him for the next 10 minutes, going through some of the heaviest construction that I’ve seen in my life. There were heavy loaders, graders and many dangerous things around each corner. I never would have made it without him, nor would the rest of the cars behind me, who had placed their complete trust in me. Eventually, he pulled over and waved us on, as I pulled out onto the highway once again. As I pulled away I looked in my rear view mirror and saw him talking to another driver, pointing him to the sign on the back of his car, and telling him the same thing that he had told me…”follow me.”
This reminds me of the Christian life.
When we follow something, it comes down to obeying instructions. Like following the driver through the construction site, it simply comes down to doing what you are told. To follow is to obey, which is a quality that we must possess, if we someday want to enter Paradise.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Up here in northern Minnesota we have numerous hunting guides. Their purpose is to show you where the fish are or how to find a trophy black bear. A guide will show us how to obtain what we desire. Jesus Spiritually guides us, showing us the way to eternal life, but in order to finally obtain it, we must do what He says.
When we become a Christian, we are called to follow the path of Christ. One of the definitions of the word “follow” means to engage in, as a calling or a way of life. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and the only way to God the Father is through Him. Millions upon millions of people truly want to obtain eternal life, including some who profess to be Christian, but the only way there is through the Lord Jesus Christ and following Him with an obedient and faithful heart. We must be converted to scriptural teachings contained in His Holy Word. It is only through faithful application of the scriptures that we can eventually become sanctified and transformed into what God wants us to become.
When we choose to follow Jesus, it means to pursue Him with a great desire to please and obey Him in everything. Another definition for follow, means to accept as your authority and to obey such as carrying out orders or instructions.
In the military, if you follow a general into battle, you need to obey him in everything. Jesus Christ is the king of kings and the general of generals. We must submit and obey Him in everything because it is the proof of our love towards the one who laid down his own life on the cross, so that we might be saved..
John 14:21, 23-24 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
The only way that we can enter into eternal life is if we truly love Christ. To truly love Christ is to become obedient to His commands and teachings. Those who refuse to submit to His will are liars, and all liars will have their place in the lake of fire.
1 John 2:3-5 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
For example, a woman is commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ not to depart her husband. If she chooses to do so, she is rebelling against Jesus and is void of the truth. To genuinely follow Jesus means to serve him. God gives us grace to cleanse our conscience, but it is given so that we can turn from the carnal nature, and serve Him with an appreciative and loving heart.
John 12:26 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.
Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Many people who profess Christianity are focused on love, while the truth is that in order to serve God we must also possess reverence and Godly fear.
Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
In these latter days, many people who profess to be Christian don’t possess these qualities. Without those qualities you will never turn from sin, and you will never become obedient to His will.
Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
Be very careful about who follows you, because if you lead them away from the teachings of Christ, you will lead them all to damnation, and you will be held responsible in the eyes of God.
To follow means to copy and to imitate. The disciples of Jesus replicated the life of Christ to the world. They preached God’s Word and healed people. They turned away from earthly occupations, to follow God’s calling. The Apostle Paul wanted the church to grow by following him and his faith.
1 Corinthians 4:14-16 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
So again, if we are going to follow Christ, it means to obey the things that He taught. If you are going to obey the instructions of a teacher at school, or obey direction from someone who leads you through a construction site, we must humbly obey when the Lord Jesus calls out to us with those two words…..
……Follow Me
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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