As the clock ticks away the hours and the days of our life fly past, timeless eternity draws near and the burden of where we would live eternally rests heavily on our soul.
Many have trod the path in which we now walk, and if Christ tarries, many more would follow after us. How they ended their journey, or how they would, and how we would end ours, too, on the other side of life is the most important personal issue that rests in the heart of any person who is conscious of the eternal places of the afterlife: heaven or hell.
“…Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels…And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.”
Matthew 25:34,41,46.
Those who have gone before us have had their chances and those who will follow after us will have their own chances, too, but for now we are having our own chances to conduct our journey to heaven, each person in the best way they believe would earn them a place in the Kingdom of God.
There is only one way, though, by which all who travel faithfully therein would end up in God’s kingdom. He is Jesus Christ.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” John 14:6.
The scripture above is not a new revelation to most people, anyway, as Jesus Christ has been widely preached as Lord and Saviour for over two thousand years now. But, perhaps, it may be new to someone out there; but the disturbing news is how reluctant we are to follow this “Way” (Jesus Christ) to a happy ending in heaven.
Today’s study will seek to help us identify the hindrances to walking with Jesus Christ, and how to overcome them.
1. SHOW SUFFICIENT INTEREST IN FOLLOWING JESUS CHRIST
John 1:35-39; John 11:7-16; Luke 9:57-62; 22:31-33
In most cases of Christians who lost the Kingdom of God and ended up in hell, it is not that they didn’t receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, but whether, over time, they were able to sustain that initial interest in following Jesus Christ continuously is the pertinent question to ask.
“And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father…and another also said, Lord, I will follow thee, but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house”_ Luke 9:59,61.
There’s hardly any acceptable excuse for refusing God’s invitation, no matter how well thought out it may seem. Matthew 22:1-5; 19:16-22; Proverbs 1:20-33.
If our zeal in following Jesus Christ daily equally matches our desire to make heaven at last, we would definitely achieve meaningful progress in our relationship with God.
“And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me” Matthew 10:38.
2. KEEP FOLLOWING JESUS EVEN WHEN OTHERS WILL NOT
John 6:66-69; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Matthew 24:10-13; 2 Peter 2:1-2; Romans 8:35-39.
“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.
It is a fact that people sometimes get discouraged following Jesus Christ, but more disturbing is the fact that some of these people get discouraged because of others who will not serve God in truth. This is spiritual childishness, or simply, a convenient excuse for uninterested people to walk away from Jesus Christ. For instance, why do we not see this happening in the secular world? When have we seen people resigning their appointments because one or two of their colleagues are inefficient? When have we seen companies folding up simply because some other companies doing the same business are not competent? Do they not rather see other people’s inefficiency or lack of competence as an opportunity for their own skills or good qualities to be noticed? Why do we not translate this into spiritual reality?
“Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended” Matthew 26:33.
As our faith requires some complimentary works in order to be honoured by God, so also serving Him requires followership in order for it to be acceptable with Him. Romans 12:1-2; 8:1-6; 1 John 2:4-6.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit”
Romans 8:1.
The true test for serving God is followership. This is the point of separation between the Christian who know what they want and where they are headed to, as against the ones who are simply observing a religious obligation.
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” John 8:31.
Where others fail to follow Jesus Christ because they cannot bear to walk in His footsteps, that is where the faithful follower distinguishes themselves by proving they are truly committed to Jesus Christ for a lifetime.
3. LET YOUR LOVE FOR JESUS BE YOUR MOTIVATION IN FOLLOWING HIM EACH DAY
John 21:15-17; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15.
“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” Romans 5:5.
It is amazing what extent humans, even animals too, could go in proving they are in love. In the romantic love vocabulary there’s hardly anything like convenience or discouragement, unless where the fires of true love were never kindled, or its embers are slowly dying.
“Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be condemned”
Song of Solomon 8:7.
If we could dare to fall in love with Jesus Christ as we are prone to do with mere, temporal, earthly beings or things, we should, no doubt, eventually arrive at heaven’s blissful city with no doubt as to our suitability for admittance into its eternal glory; for then would no excuses ( no matter how pressing) have been too important as to stand in our way! Anyone who has a relationship with God will immediately agree that we have been created with the capacity to love Him more than we could love anyone or anything else — even ourselves!. Matthew 10:37; 19:27-29.
“And everyone that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life”_
Matthew 19:29.
Nothing fosters a closer relationship and an enduring love as much as constant communication or fellowship. This is as true in all our physical ties with people as it is in spiritual ties with God also. We are responsible for whether our love for Jesus Christ is growing or dying, and the health of our love for Him determines the strength and quality of our followership.
“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.
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”.
John 14:21, 24 .
It is not possible to love Jesus Christ and the world within the same heart. 1 John 2:15-17; Matthew 6:24.
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” Matthew 6:24.
Enthroning Jesus Christ in our heart each day, without any rival, is the sure way forward to heaven, and the following daily activities would prove to be of immense help in doing this:
1. A ceaseless prayer life: Luke 18:1-7; Luke 6:12; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
“Pray without ceasing.”
The Christian who has cultivated and nurtured a disciplined prayer schedule will, no doubt have discovered that it has brought them closer to Jesus Christ.
2. A disciplined fasting schedule: Joel 1:14; 2:15-18; Jonah 3:5,10; Zechariah 8:18-19; Acts 13:1-12 .
” As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them”. Acts.13.2.
Fasting is to the human spirit what physical exercise is to their body. As a constant exercise keeps the body fit, grows the muscles and improve their reflexes, so also constant fasting increases the awareness and sensitivity of the human spirit to the spiritual realities surrounding them.
3. A continuous study of God’s Word: Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3; Deuteronomy 17:18-19; Psalm 119:9-11; Acts 17:10-11; John 5:39; 2 Timothy 2:15.
The Holy Bible is God’s instruction to mankind on how to navigate life’s complexities while maintaining a right standing with Him all through. Without the Holy Bible’s guidance, no one can live for, or walk with God as He want them to.
“… Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee”.
Psalm 119:9,11.
4. A sustained practice of preaching, visitation and personal evangelism:
2 Timothy 4:1-2; Acts 8:4-8; 15:36; 2:44-47; 4:33; 20:17-24.
Getting involved in the ministry of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the lost is the best way to walk with Him. Jesus Christ lives in those who truly and faithfully evangelize lost souls and follow them up until they are spiritually mature and also become His true followers.
I’ve always told anyone who cared to listen that if they want to find Jesus Christ anytime, He’s always available in the evangelism fields.
“And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen”.
Mark.16.20.