Following Christ

     All people ascribe ultimate value to something. This tendency is known as worship. The object of a person’s worship will determine their religion as they seek to satisfy the universal desire to worship. But, what is the difference between religious folk and those who are truly spiritual? Questions like this are often asked by people who recognize the heart of the matter. They are specifically attempting to discern how you can know that you are not just going through the motions in your spiritual life. I am convinced that the only way to be a spiritual person is to be born again by trusting Jesus Christ for the payment for and forgiveness of sins. Faith in Christ alone is the only hope men have to overcome the death and frailty that all of us experience. Saving faith changes things. It convinces a person that true satisfaction only comes from following Jesus Christ. For most people, following Jesus Christ is a nebulous concept. How can you know that you are truly following Christ?

On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." (Luke 5:1-5 ESV)

Scripture uses the call of Peter and some of the twelve to follow Christ as an example we are to follow. The focus Luke places on Peter personalizes the experience for us. Peter recognized that Jesus was a minister of God’s word and submitted to his request to put out a little from the land. Peter’s willingness to put his time and resources at Christ’s disposal resulted in the furtherance of the ministry of the word. Christ taught the people from Peter’s boat but that was just the beginning of the adventure. Christ turns to Peter and directly commands him to go into the deep and let down his nets for a catch. Now, Peter had been fishing all night and had not caught anything. He had an experience and drew conclusions from it. Nevertheless, Peter chose to suspend his disbelief and trust Christ. A thoughtful person could have many questions right now but upon careful reflection on the text one has to conclude that Luke intended to develop this story to give the reader the same sense of uncertainty Peter may have felt. Regardless of this uncertainty, Peter let down his net expecting to catch fish as a humble response to the commandment of the Rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth. Peter was committed to following God’s word even when it did not match his experience. He was living by faith.

What role does God’s word play in your life? Are you eager to hear it preached? Are you supporting local and foreign missionaries? Do you share God’s gracious news of salvation with those who do not know him? Are you helping your fellow believers learn more about our Lord? Are you quick to apply God’s principles to your life regardless of what past experience have led you to believe? Is God’s word forming your opinions about life and the world you live in? Following Christ begins with submission to his word. Nevertheless, obeying the word can result in empty ritualism if it is not coupled with the second characteristic of being a follower of Jesus Christ.

And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:6-11 ESV)

The Lord blessed Peter as is evident from the chain of events that Luke records for us. However, the blessing was not in the catch of fish. God’s blessing for Peter was in the sudden awareness that the man Jesus Christ was not just another Rabbi. Peter falls down at Jesus’ knees and says “Depart from me. . .” Remember, they had put out into the deep to cast down their nets for a catch. Peter didn’t expect Christ to really go anywhere. Instead, Peter was acknowledging his unworthiness to be in the presence of the only person truly worthy of his worship. His confession of sinfulness is not dealing with any particular sin. It is recognition of his frail humanity.  Commentators compare this to Isaiah’s confession of having unclean lips. Interestingly enough, Isaiah is commissioned to proclaim God’s word a few sentences later. The catch was not the focus. Jesus is worthy of our allegiance.  The awareness of his presence is the most valuable experience any man can have.

Everyone involved recognized the unusual nature of the event that had suddenly taken place. These seasoned veterans of the sea were confronted with an unexplainable result to an ordinary task. They drew the right conclusion that a divine act had occurred. The presence of God was felt. Such experiences are always accompanied by a trembling of the soul. It is the response to the awareness of an immeasurable magnitude, much like suddenly finding yourself helplessly suspended over an unperceivable depth peering into the unknown. It is an isolation of the soul where even the mundane becomes unfamiliar.  It is here, when surrounded by divine love, where you recognize your most basic need. You see the purpose for your existence and how you have strayed from it as you stand before the one to whom you are accountable. It is this trembling of the soul that makes you yearn for mercy. As Peter trembled Jesus said, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." The Lord is also a shepherd! Oh what encouragement! God has a plan and purpose for your life. But as the sheep hear the voice of the shepherd and respond we must tune our ear to the word of God and respond. This hearing and responding is the essence of following Christ. Living in harmony with Scripture cannot be achieved unless we have an awareness of the immeasurable magnitude of the power, holiness, and love of the one who gave them to us. The more we tremble in our hearts, the more mercy we find, the more compelled we are to follow Christ.

True satisfaction only comes from following Christ. People fail to follow Christ because they are not committed to live as they are taught by God’s Word. Some disregard it altogether. Some twist it to fit their own desires and sensibilities. Others will be able to tell you exactly what it says yet never find it in their hearts to obey it. People who make these decisions have decided to go their own way. They are refusing to discipline themselves according to divinely revealed truth. For these the Psalmist has correctly assessed that “Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes.” (Psalm 36:1 ESV) But when we surrender our lives to a loving shepherd we begin the process whereby we will one day be made complete. That maturity comes with the knowledge of perfect love. Perfect love does away with all fear of judgment (1 John 4:17-18). You can experience this perfect love if you will surrender your life to follow Christ and believe that he has the power to save you from the penalty of your sins. The first step is to confess your sins and determine to turn from them. The next step is depending on his grace to help you live up to that commitment for the rest of your life. God has promised that none who come to him will be rejected (John 6:37). But you must approach him with a trembling soul. This is true worship and the beginning of true spirituality.