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Ten Reasons to Follow Jesus
God's word says the "fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." So fearing God is a good place to start, but there's much more beyond fearing Him. In David Letterman fashion, here's our Top Ten list outlining the best reasons to obey Jesus, ranked from not so great, to starter level, to full maturity. Let the Holy Spirit show you where you are and where He is calling you to next.
Reason # 10: "He's giving out free stuff."
"Ask, and you shall receive - sounds good to me!" I could use a better job, more money, where do I start? The great Santa Claus in the sky. Because He really can give us anything. Better finances. Healing when we're sick. Maybe a relationship.
He can solve our problems and get us out of a bind (sometimes).
Many Christians evangelize this way. Catch people at rock bottom, when circumstances have them down. Okay to start people there, as long as we don't let people stay there for all their Christian lives.
Jesus' word for folks at this stage: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."
Reason # 9: My family and friends are Christians.
Many people begin their faith walk by adopting the values of other believers, especially Mom and Dad. Thank heaven for Christian parents and the foundation they lay in the lives of their little ones. It's a wonderful start. But Christianity was never meant to be handed down, with blind acceptance, from parent to child. The goal of bringing up children in the Lord is to put them in a position where they can truly make their own informed decision, and make their own informed leap of faith into the hands of a faithful God. It must become our own choice, our own relationship with the living God. Anything less isn't Christianity; it's just mimicking Christianity.
Jesus' word for people at this stage: "But what about you? Who do YOU say I am?" Matthew 16:15.
"Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony… And because of His words many more became believers. They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world." (John 4:39-42)
Reason # 8: One word: Guilt.
You should be nice to people. You should pray and read your bible. You should give money to the poor. You should tithe to your church. These "shoulds" are true, but if that's your sole motivation, you are not going to experience the joy, the peace, and the life that the Lord wants to give you.
The devil has a long list of "shoulds" that he will gladly quote to you daily, if you are willing to listen to him. "Shoulds" tend to lead to discouragement, which is not God's way of motivating His people. Discouragement tends to make you want to give up. Guilt will never compel you to truly crucify your sinful nature. Guilt will only compel your flesh to go underground, to hide from the light, but that's not the same as being crucified. A hidden self is more self centered than the self that's allowed to run wild and free.
Jesus' word to people at this stage: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40)
Reason # 7: Heaven, yes. Hell, no.
Many people follow Jesus to escape judgment and avoid the flames of hell. Works for me. It's funny how living in hell forever, with no chance of ever escaping, motivates us to seek God. And it is supposed to motivate us. Jesus even said not to fear men, because they only have power to kill you. Jesus said to fear God, because He's the one who can not only kill you, but after that, He can put you in hell forever. Or He can save you.
Salvation is a great fire insurance. Is it selfish? You bet. But it works. There's nothing wrong with starting here. Just don't stop here. Remember, fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We are not meant to stay stuck in fear. Fear will never compel you to get on the cross and put your flesh to death for Christ's sake. Fear will never compel you to charge into battle on another's behalf.
Jesus' word for people stuck at this stage: "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." (John 15:15) Jesus declared that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. When we realize that we cannot escape hell except by trusting Jesus, we begin to embrace Him as the Way. His desire is for us to know Him also as the Truth, and ultimately as Life itself.
And the flip side of this one: You get to go to heaven. This one doesn't motivate everyone. It would, if we could catch a glimpse of heaven. But we don't have a clue what it will be like. God has an awesome investment plan - you can't beat it! Who else could offer you investments that provide a return for all of eternity, even after this life? Let that motivate you, but don't stop there.
A rich young ruler asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Understand, he wasn't interested in more intimacy with God. Was looking for something, not someone. He wanted fire insurance.
Jesus' word for people who stop at this level: "Whoever wants to find his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it." (Matthew 10:39)
And likewise, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)
Reason # 7b: I hate disease, drought and locusts. Especially locusts.
7b? Okay, so we really have 11 reasons, but "Top 11" sounds hokey. So we tied heaven/hell in with judgments and blessings on earth.
Leviticus 25 says if we don't obey God, we will be punished. Life won't go so well. Obeying God so I won't get cursed, that's probably wise. But that shouldn't be my sole motivation for obeying God.
And the flip side: I like the blessings! Bring them on!
Leviticus 25 and 26 also says that if we obey God, we get blessings, good stuff like healthy crops, good health, long life! I want God's blessings for me and my family. How about you? But if the only reason I obey God is so He'll treat me well, that's not a relationship based on love or intimacy. It's a marriage of convenience. You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. There's more to being a Christian than this. Jesus didn't die on the cross just so we could get real good at obeying rules, He gave His life as a ransom to win a bride, so that He could live inside of us.
Jesus' word to people who are fixed on the rules: "One thing you lack. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (Mark 10:21)
Reason # 6: He'll make me a nicer person, which is nice.
Not many people can make an offer like that. It's tough to change yourself, but He can change you on the inside. That's a good thing, wanting to be a nicer person. But even that can be a selfish goal…. I want to be nicer so I'll like myself better. Jesus isn't calling us to be friends with the world, but a light to the darkness. Sometimes that will mean letting go of the desire to be liked, so that we can obey God.
Jesus' word to people who stop with niceness: "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead." (Matthew 8:22). And also: "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." (Proverbs 27:6)
Reason # 5: He'll give my life meaning and purpose.
Maybe you've exhausted every other search for meaning. Nothing else has worked. All is vanity, as Ecclesiastes says. Things start out big, but they lose their oomph after a while. Where else can you go? When lots of people stopped following Jesus, He asked the twelve if they were going to leave Him too. "Where else can we go, Lord?" Peter answered. "Only You have the words of life."
Each of us has come to a point in our life where we realize: Nothing is going to satisfy me more than a day or so, except one thing - an intimate relationship with the One who made me.
Jesus' word for folks at this stage: "You did not choose Me, but I chose you." Choosing to follow Jesus because nothing else has been meaningful, that's wise. But becoming a Christian is about more than filling the void in our hearts. It's about letting God be God.
Reason # 4: Bail Bondsman. He can set me free from sin.
Jesus says "Anyone who sins is a slave to sin. But if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:34) Being a slave is no fun. No matter how well today might go, you still know that someone else owns your tomorrow. But aren't you glad God set it up so that sin gets old? What if it didn't? We might never hit a dead end and turn back! How many of the saints would have stayed sinners if sin never got old, or if the devil was allowed to give greater, more lasting rewards for yielding to the cares of this world? I believe it's God's mercy that caused Him to make it so sin gets old. He wants us to have the chance to turn around, to see the emptiness in every path that isn't leading to Him.
God does deliver us from sin, but that's not the end goal. He wants to do more than get us out of Egypt. He wants to get us into the Promised Land. He IS the Promised Land. "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. As the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." (John 7:38)
Jesus' word for folks at this stage: Fill your house with My Spirit, don't leave it empty. (See Luke 11:24)
Reason # 3: I have come to trust Him, and only Him. Apart from Him, I can do nothing.
He is an excellent Guide. God knows the future, we don't. He can tell us when we're approaching a nasty curve. He's a better navigator than we are. And He is more than Navigator, He is both our Journey and our Destination.
The flip side of this one is our learning to never trust the devil. We may grow up thinking that he makes only occasional appearances during the darkest moments, but life in the Spirit teaches us that our adversary truly is the "prince of this world" and his influence permeates mankind, including our very own heart. We come to a point where we're tired of seeing him rip us off and lead us astray. We grow weary of him stealing away our affection for the Lord and setting our heart on foolish and temporary things. The years teach us, if we will listen, that even a little compromise with the evil one spells a greatly diluted Christian life.
Jesus' word for folks at this stage: "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" (Mark 10:38). To trust in Him alone is a stage that comes after many trials and fervent seeking of His ways. But if we will truly follow Jesus all the way, we will be ready to die with Him, to endure whatever cross He places on us, fair or unfair. Can you drink the cup?
Reason # 2: True love. He's the best friend I've ever had.
Jesus is wonderful to know. There is no hypocrisy in Him. Just spending time with Him gives you life, peace, joy, and it meets your deepest needs of intimacy. He is the world's greatest lover.
A rich relationship with the Lord will fill our deepest needs. And it blesses God too. That's why He made us: for fellowship. Remember the prodigal Father who runs out to embrace His long lost son who has decided to come home. When we go beyond fear, guilt, gift-seeking, and all of the other lesser reasons to follow God, and seek Him out of love, we are very close to receiving what Jesus promised to His followers.
But even seeking intimacy is still not the perfect motivation. Even love and friendship can be rooted in self centeredness. Think about times in your life when you had a very special someone, and that person called it quits. Could you keep loving them, even if they stopped loving you? That's when the self centered nature gets exposed, even in what feels like a very giving relationship. When Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, Peter answered with the Greek word that means affection. Jesus asked using the word for a perfect, selfless love. Agape. The kind of love where we lose ourselves, where we would love that Person even if there seems to be no reward in it, even if we cannot have them. God calls us even beyond a deep level of love and affection for Him, He calls us to complete worship of Him.
Jesus' word for folks at this stage: "Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 10:38-39) And likewise, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)
Reason # 1: He deserves it. Worthy is the Lamb.
He deserves our obedience. Look at His patience, His mercy, His sacrifice, all He has done for us. Look at how many times He has forgiven us. Look at all that He has trusted us with.
He, above all others, deserves my worship, my obedience, my everything. Greeks had several words for different kinds of love. We can love Jesus because there is something in it for us, but there is a deeper level. We can love Jesus because He deserves it. Agape love. Even if it doesn't give us anything in return, you are driven to love Him. You're tired of seeing the devil win lots of followers and captives, you want Jesus to win. Even if it appears to others that you are failing and cast off, even if you have no reward left in this life, you choose to pour yourself out upon Him. No matter what the cost.
Jesus' word to people at this stage: "Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life… He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death." (Revelations 2:10-11) And… "Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown." (Revelations 3:10-11). Lastly… "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)
Conclusions
Any reason to follow Jesus is a good reason, at least for a season. And we need to give other people freedom to start small and work towards large. If we expect another to arrive at Galatians 2:20 on our time table, we may cause them to throw up their hands in defeat and give up. True mentors in Christ will see where others are at, and where God is calling them to next, and these mentors will work in step with God's timing and manner.
We are called to mature, to continually seek God for more noble and less self seeking reasons. Ultimately, we are called to die, so that Christ may live. And only one motivation will inspire you to this death of self: love for the Son of God. We love Him because He first loved us.
Only love and trust will compel you to deny your very self, to crucify your flesh, your very person, and to attack the hordes of hell on behalf of Jesus and His little ones. You will never crucify your flesh out of guilt, or in obedience to rules, or because of a promised reward. Love alone will get you there.
God is calling each of us to move past the lesser reasons for following Him. He's calling us into the highest of reasons, love for Jesus. Can you drink the cup?
Reason # 10: Free
stuff.
Reason # 9: My family and friends are Christians.
Reason # 8: One word: Guilt.
Reason # 7: Heaven, yes. Hell, no.
Reason # 7b: I hate disease, drought and locusts. Especially locusts.
Reason # 6: He'll make me a nicer person, which is nice.
Reason # 5: He'll give my life meaning and purpose.
Reason # 4: Bail Bondsman. He can set me free from sin.
Reason # 3: I have come to trust Him, and only Him.
Reason # 2: True love. He's the best friend I've ever had.
Reason # 1: He deserves it. Worthy is the Lamb.
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