Leaving and Following.

In his account of the Gospel record, Dr Luke shares the incident in which the Lord Jesus, having resisted the temptations of the enemy; been rejected in Nazareth, where He had been raised; cast out a demon in Capernaum; healed the mother-in-law of Simon; and preached in the synagogue; was preaching at the shore of Lake Gennesaret. As the crowd pressed in on Him, He saw a couple of fishing boats drawn up on the beach while the fishermen were washing their nets. He got into one of them - that happened to belong to Simon - and asked him to put out a little way from the land. Then, having taught the people, He instructed Simon to "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” (Luke 5:4). Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at Your word I will let down the nets.” The catch that they now took was so great that even with the other boat helping, the boats began to sink under the weight of the fish.

Simon was completely overcome, and "fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (v.8}. The Lord Jesus replied to Simon, and to James and John who were his partners: “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.”  And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him." (vs.10-11)

Perhaps we take too lightly the fact that the disciples "left everything and followed Him." This action involved at least two aspects, the leaving of their former life, and the realignment of their loyalty.

 

The Greek word translated as "leaving" is used in a variety of extreme situations, including the "putting away" of a spouse (I Corinthians 7:11-12; also "leave," v. 13), and even death. "And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded up (same word) His spirit." (Matthew 27:50). This leaving implies a complete severing of a situation or relationship.

 

Furthermore, they "left everything". For Peter, James, John, and Andrew, this involved leaving a prosperous business; for Matthew, a prestigious position of wealth - in other words, their careers. Certainly each left their livelihood, security, training, possessions, relationships, hopes - everything! "So therefore, whoever of you does not renounce all that he has cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:33).

 

Next, the disciples needed to restructure their lives and loyalties to those of Christ. The word "follow" implies a unity of purpose and direction. Jesus told the rich young ruler: "You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow (same word) Me" (Mark 10:21).

 

The Lord Jesus issues the same call to discipleship to each of us. Peter asked Him the question which we frequently ask. “Lo, we have left everything and followed You. What then shall we have?” (Matthew 19:27). The Saviour answered, "every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for My Name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life." (v. 29).

How ready are you, am I, to leave everything and follow Him? That's a good question!

Religion - or Relationship?

Mary works hard because she wants her boss to recognise her accomplishments and reward her with a promotion that will increase her salary. Nancy loves her job, and the product that her company sells and, out of a deep sense of loyalty, she works hard to make the product better.

Mary is like the person who hopes that good works, or religion will, one day, be rewarded by Almighty God (of Whose existence she may not even be totally convinced!). Such a person counts on their good deeds to gain them entrance to heaven.

Nancy is more like a picture of the person who has faith in God, and His grace, through a personal relationship with Jesus, the Christ, and is assured of eternal life. Such people do good deeds out of gratitude and love for the Lord.

Someone with "religion" may believe in the existence of God; attend a worship service - even regularly; 'say prayers' (which is not necessarily the same as 'praying'!); show kindness; and be considered to be a generally 'good' person. People who have "religion" have many good qualities - but religion is not, and never can be, a substitute for a saving relationship with Father God, through  the atoning* sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, the Christ (Messiah; HaMashiach), and the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKadosh).

People with faith put their trust in the Lord Jesus for forgiveness of sin. They have assurance of eternal life, and seek to become more like Jesus on a daily basis - the process known as "sanctification"* It is not a matter of my 'works', as if I could somehow earn salvation. Paul, writing to the early believers in Ephesus stated: "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God - not because of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph 2:8-9). There is one Way, and one Way only. Jesus said: "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me." (John 14:6) - words that appear to have been forgotten (or are ignored!) even by some members of the clergy with whom I am acquainted!

Religion - that is man-made, and leads to hell; or a relationship with the Sovereign Creator of all that exists - a relationship that does not depend on what you have done, or can do, but solely on His love, and grace, and mercy?

Remember: we are saved, not by what we do, but by trusting in what the Lord Jesus has done!

*These words, or a cognate, are dealt with in my first book: Great Words of the Faith (access details above). The first 10% is available for preview on the Amazon link. Remember that ALL of the royalties earned go directly to the bank account of Release International, in support of the persecuted church.