I was thinking of Twitter, the internet fad that is sweeping the world. On my Twitter account I have followers, and those that I follow. Often someone writes “Follow Me”, and you elect whether to do so or not. I follow some interesting, mostly Christian, sites. You can only put about 140 total characters on each post, but often have a link placed where you can go for more reading, by linking a web site or blog..
Our Lord has said several times in His word; “Follow Me.” He says this not because He is on Twitter, or with some Twitter-like purpose. His reason is far more important than a fun place to be, or an information site, a political site, or even a religious quest. He told His disciples “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).
His high and holy purpose requires followers which He has called to Himself, and who are equipped by Him to reach other men and women. “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” Matthew 16:24). He implied here that there would be a cost, not a cost for salvation, He has paid that price for His elect. But there is a cross for each of us. That cross for us is bearing the reproach of Christ as far as this world is concerned, and sometimes suffering for the cause of Christ.
“But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end” (Matthew 26:58). Here Peter was frightened and uncertain as Jesus was led away to be crucified. Christ had told him that he would deny Him three times, and Peter did so. But, after Christ’s resurrection, the Lord showed Simon Peter how that he would die for Christ: “This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me” (John 21:19).
On the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit transformed Simon Peter and empowered him as a preacher of the gospel. Later, in his epistle, he was given these words for us in this age: “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” ( 1Peter 2:21,22).
Those in that day were literally following Jesus Christ in His earthly body. It must have been wonderful to be day by day with Him as He went from place to place, many times preaching and teaching as He was walking.
Remember, most everywhere Jesus went, He walked. Exceptions were on a boat in the Sea of Galilee, and a donkey provided for His triumphal entry into Jerusalem a little before His crucifixion. Travel was so different in those days. He spent His entire earthly life in a country roughly the size of New Jersey. Not even the size of one of our largest states! Are you a follower of Jesus?
Jesus said “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (John 10:27). “And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers”(John 10:5). When we hear His voice, as His sheep, we make no mistake – we follow Him and not another because He knows us, and draws us.
There are other scriptures that teach us that should we stray away and follow another for a time, our Lord will come after us. "How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray (Matthew 18:12,13).
No, Christ did not save us to lose us. Do you think our omniscient God doesn't know the end from the beginning? If He has designed to save you; if you are one of His elect from the foundation of the world, He has eternal plans for you. Now you can stop following someone on Twitter. Your computer might crash and you can't get online anymore.You may follow a person in this present world, perhaps someone you believe you love. Such matters often "fizzle out" and you may stop following that person and go your way. Christ does not let one of His permanently and finally stop following Him. He will come after you. He may chastise you. Actually He will chastise you betimes if you are His "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons (Hebrews 12:6-8).
He goes on to say back in or text in Matthew 18:14 "Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish". If the Spirit of God is speaking to you, set out to follow Him. He doesn't have any rejects, though He saves many of the world's rejects. May He save you, dear friend, as He did me. There is nobody better that you can follow. "Where He leads me, I will follow". Can you say that truthfully? "Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness" (Hebrews 3:7-8).
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