Don’t Look Back, it’s Time to Go!
1 Peter 4:That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
4 ¶ Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
There comes a point in life, when casual Christianity will not cut it. You have a radical personal encounter with the living God, and everything changes. You see your life in light of eternity.
Before, all that mattered was who was dating who, who had what new smartphone, what movie you gonna go see, what are your plans for the weekend, and living the life!
Now, you need Jesus, and eternity beckons, and you must fulfill your upward calling, the purpose you were created for.
Your friends do not understand!
4 ¶ Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
They think you are odd, eccentric, off, and you become the butt of their jokes, the talk of the derogatory gossip column, and truthfully, it hurts!
You try to talk to them about Jesus, and this love and life you’ve discovered, and generally, they laugh you to scorn.
And so you leave them, in obedience to Holy Spirit, to begin your own personal faith walk, stepping into what appears to be the loneliest season of your life. All your friends and family reject you, shun you, or at best misunderstand you, but there is glory in this walk, and you know it!
Hebrews 11: 24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
You are not alone! There is an eternal people in the earth, just like you, full of love, life, joy, and a radical passion to please our heavenly Father.
Serving Jesus does not need to be life in a monastery, but is designed to be full of love for people, people you have never met yet, people to whom you are the only hope they have. There is always a people at the other side of our obedience. Step out, obey God, and Go!
Let me pray for you:
‘Father, I thank you for my friend, that has just taken courageous steps to follow you. Comfort them, encourage them, for every friend they leave behind, give them ten new ones, for every family member, 100 times brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, and inlaws according to Mark 10:29. Give them supernatural peace to obey you, and special faith to be able to believe for those left behind, to make heaven, and accept salvation through you Jesus. Thank you that you love them, and we, the Body of Christ love them, in Jesus name, Amen”