What causes people to follow Jesus? What would have pushed Peter, Andrew, James, and John, the first disciples, to just drop what they were doing, leave their loved ones and follow Jesus who they have never met before? Here are three truths to reflect on if you want to follow Jesus.
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
The Bible calls Jesus, the Light of the world, John 8:12, Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” People instinctively follow the light. We are drawn into it like fish in the night. Jesus was this light and these fishermen were drawn to him like a magnet. Let me ask you a question. Do you want to stay in the darkness? What do you usually feel in the dark? You feel cold, separated, fearful, alone. That is why when Jesus called these people, they were pulled our from darkness and there was no turning back for them.
HE IS OUR HOPE
Matthew 12:21 says, “…and his name will be the hope of all the world.” Everyone needs hope. Where there is hope, people go to it. That’s why these folks went with Jesus. They sensed hope in Him. Something inside of them gave them the confidence to leave everything behind. Where there is no hope, there is only pain and misery. We don’t want that! We want hope and these people found that in Jesus.
THE TRUTH
In John 14:6, Jesus told him [Thomas], “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. We do not want to live in (or with) anything false. We want the truth! We cannot live in a world of lies. That is why when the first disciples were asked by Jesus to follow Him, it was not hard. They knew Jesus held the truth and they want the truth.
I want to be in the light. I want to have hope. I want the truth. That is why I followed Jesus ever since He called me in September 1989. Do you want that in your life too? Then follow Jesus, there is no other way. God is calling you today. Heed that call. Tell Jesus that you repent of your sins and you want Him to take control of your life. Receive Jesus in your heart right now.
God bless you!
