Following Jesus
It’s been quite a while since I last updated and wrote something in this space. In all, I’m really glad I’m back here, and I hope to be more consistent with delivering value and helping in our love walk by the grace of God.
I have a few things to share with us, and I’m sure it’ll bless you in no small way. Recently, I saw a tweet that says, “Following Jesus would cost you everything. Also, not following Jesus will cost you everything. One cost is earthly, the other is eternal.” When you see a tweet like this, the first impression is to weigh the cost of following Jesus and not following Jesus. In a more in-depth study, you’ll realize that that tweet is much deeper than it seems. Here’s a concise explanation of it:
In 2 Corinthians 5, verse 17, the text says:
[17]Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. The Apostle Paul then continues by emphasizing that, by being IN CHRIST, we are now ambassadors of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:20
[20]Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
The seal of your “ambassadorship” is the Holy Spirit in you. In Ephesians 1.13, scriptures say that — [13]In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. The Holy Spirit validates that you have been engrafted into Christ. The Holy Spirit is also the assurance of the price Jesus paid on your behalf. So, yes, you’ve been bought with a price, and now, you must live according to the dictates of the one who redeemed you.
1 Corinthians 6:19–20
[19]What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
[20]For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Your response to the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus is to live according to His dictates. What do His dictates say?
Colossians 3:1–5
[1]If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
[2]Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
[3]For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
[4]When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
[5]Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
The text in Col 3:3 shows that we are fundamentally dead. However, the life we now enjoy is the life of Christ. So we must strip ourselves from the desires of our flesh and cling to the desires of Heaven — setting our affections to the things above.
The life we live now in Christ is a life that is not subject to our desires. It’s a life that is completely sold out to God and His will. It is a life lived on God’s terms and not our terms.
Col. 3:5 says to “mortify” the deeds of the flesh. The word “mortify” is the Greek word “nekroō”. It means “to deaden.” It is a similar word to “mortuary.” So, by mortifying the deeds of the flesh, you’re basically deadening the works of the flesh and its desires. The sentence there is an instruction and, as such, must be taken with all seriousness. It is an action that must take place every day. The Apostle Paul showed us a sad reality in Galatians 5:17,
Galatians 5:17
[17]For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
He shows us that there is a continuous conflict within us on the kind of choices we make. It’s either we obey the desires of the flesh, or we succumb to the leading of the Spirit. For this reason, the Apostle Paul advised that we walk in the Spirit so we won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
God is aware of our weakness in obeying His will and instructions. Because of that, He has placed His laws in our hearts and put His spirit in us to help us live according to His dictates. He desires that we continue in this life that we have received and bring others also. He has not promised us an easy route, but He has promised us a definite future — a life of an expected end.
For instance, God is love. Love is not something He tries to do; it is who He is. He expressed this love when He sent His only begotten son to die for us.
John 3:16
[16]For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Dying for our sins is the highest form of expression of Love. Jesus clearly said it,
John 15:13
[13]Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
This is definitely not an easy thing to do, but He did it for our sake. Now, He has instructed us to love. God instructs us to Love the Lord with all our hearts, minds, and everything we have, and then the second commandment, He says that we love our neighbors as we love ourselves. That’s extremely difficult, especially when you consider the natural human propensities.
I remember some time ago when I made an elaborate explanation about human propensities to a friend of mine, and I said, The Bible confirms, heaven believes, earth validates, and other beings also agree that the Heart of man is desperately wicked, who can know it?
Jeremiah 17:9
[9]The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it?
This verse proves the point that Love is not our natural propensity. We can claim to “feel” an emotion and tag it love, but Love transcends an emotional response. It is a response based on benevolence, mercy, and sacrifice. However, God has helped us to love by putting His spirit in us.
Romans 5:5
[5]And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Love is not the only thing God is helping us with by His spirit. God is so intentional that He has put His Spirit in us so we can do ALL of His desires.
Philippians 2:13
[13]For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Following God will cost you everything, but at the end of the day, you are on a gain of endless life in Christ. Jesus likened “belonging to the kingdom of God” to a treasure hidden in a field. A man who found the treasure and decided to sell all that he had to buy that field. Following Jesus isn’t just a life sold out to God; it is the best choice you’ll ever make. It is the smartest “business” choice.
Matthew 13:44
[44]Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
I’ve written these things to you so you can be encouraged and so you can continue in the profession of your faith. Following Jesus will cost you everything, but in the end, you will gain everything.
