You cannot stay where you are and follow Christ.
We enjoy being comfortable. Flannel sheets in the wintertime, cushy recliners, heated seats and breakfast in bed. HDTV’s, remote control, microwaves and delivered pizzas. Comfort is nice when you can get it.
But the Christian life is not about comfort--it is about obedience. In my own life the times I have been most obedient to God’s voice, I have been the least comfortable. In fact, many times I have been sick to my stomach and scared to death, but knowing that I was walking in full obedience to the Father’s will for me.
In a recent sermon, my Pastor mentioned repeatedly that the Christian life is a journey. If you have ever been on any type of journey you know that things don’t always go as you planned. A journey is filled with highs and lows and ups and downs. Sometimes you make it there unscathed but often you end up with some bumps and scrapes along the way. The one thing that is true of all journeys is that they start with a destination in mind. Rarely does one strike out on a journey without knowing where they want to end up. What makes the low points of the journey tolerable is the hope that you will make it to your destination and the excitement you will feel when you get there.
The journey of the Christian life can be a tough one. Especially when its course doesn’t quite follow the route you expected to take. Jesus said that if we followed Him we should expect difficulties. I think He did this so we wouldn’t be surprised but would start our journey with the right mindset and an awareness of the difficulties to come.
You may find yourself in a difficult time right now. You may be miles away from where you wanted to be. I know I am. My life is way different than I expected it to be. Sometimes it gets me down. But in the last few years, God has taught me to rely fully on Him. He is all I have left. He has taught me the joy in praying for the strength and means to get through the day. He has taught me to enjoy the blessings I have been given for THIS DAY, blessings like the love of my wife, the adoration of my children and the respect of my friends and family.
My journey may be different than yours, but one thing is the same. We must keep our eyes on Christ. He is at the conclusion of every Christian’s journey. We must desire a closer walk with Him no matter what the circumstances. We must see our difficulties as a way that God molds us into the image of Jesus. We must endeavor to finish the race well and to seek the things that will last for eternity. We must be willing to leave where we are in order to get up and follow Christ.
Father, help me to be strong. In this Christian life that is often not easy, help me to follow your unseen hand and rely on your Spirit’s leading. Thank you for shaping me into the image of Christ, even though the tools you use often bring pain. Thank you for the promise that one-day I will stand in your presence and worship you face to face. Continue to beckon me onward as I walk with you. In Jesus name, Amen.
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