One Worth Following
It’s interesting following someone. Whether it’s a boss, a teacher, a coach, a friend, we follow people all the time. In considering different people I’ve followed in the past, I was curious about why I found peace in following some and anxiousness when behind others. It was those I believed had my best in mind that brought me the most peace.
I remember back to my first backpacking trip years ago. A small group of friends and my buddy’s dad who had been out in the wilderness many times set out for the excursion. Showing up to a 4-day, 30 mile walk in my Nike running shoes, I had no idea what to expect – but I felt peace. I trusted that our leader, my buddy’s dad, knew what to do out there to keep us safe.
“And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). As followers of Jesus, it’s imperative that we understand what God is after and where He’s leading us.
So, what is this completed work? I’d explain it this way, God has first saved us from death caused by sin (Romans 10:9). Secondly, He’s saved us to sanctify us (1 Thessalonians 5:23), and He saved us so that we would live as created and intended (Ephesians 4:20-24).
This completing work begins by bringing life to our dead bodies. It’s to save us from sin. And this is made possible through believing in and confessing the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And as we’re told in Romans, all those who believe with their heart and confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord will be saved.
Then comes the journey of sanctification – becoming like Jesus. A life-long journey of getting rid of the things of this world that entice us and drag us away from the Lord, and clinging to that which is Jesus. So that we would, over time, begin to look and act more and more like Him.
As we continue this sanctifying process, in partnership with God through the Holy Spirit, our lives will look different from what the world and sinful nature is attempting to produce in us, and we will in turn step into the life that we were created for – walking hand-in-hand with our Creator producing fruit for the Kingdom of God.
Friend, God is in it with you for the long haul. He has your absolute best in mind. There is no safer leader to follow. Like a father disciplining his son, God is willing to sacrifice our happiness and contentment and ease of life for a time in order to move us into a deeper expression of what He’s made us for (Hebrews 12:6).
See, we’re consumed with the right now, He has the end-game in mind. It’s his desire to give you your heart’s desires, to see you smile, to watch you thrive. At the same time, He’s too good to watch you settle for less than His fullness for you. There are time where His leading will pass us through seasons of challenge and hardship, not because He’s left or is weak, rather because He is all-knowing and all-loving and has a far greater plan than we could ever conceive. What kind of leader is the Lord – He’s one worth following.
