In Matthew 4:18-22, Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee and He spotted Simon Peter and his brother, Andrew. As they were working, Jesus walks up to them and says “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men“. Verse 20 is what blew me away as it says “they immediately left their nets and followed Him“. Did you see that? The moment Jesus called them, they immediately left everything and followed Him. Peter and Andrew didn’t question Jesus or hassle Him for an explanation as to why they should follow Him. They simply left everything.
In verse 21, Jesus sees James and his brother John in their boat with their father. And the scripture says that Jesus had called them, “and immediately they left their boat and their father, and followed Him“. What amazes me about this occasion is that they left their dad in the boat. Just like Simon Peter and Andrew, they did not question Jesus. They simply left everything.
In Luke 18:18-23 is the story of The Rich Young Ruler, a young man who had many possessions and still desired to enter the kingdom of God. He asked Jesus a few questions about entering the kingdom and Jesus replied using the Ten Commandments. The young lad responded that he had kept all of them since he was young. Jesus then said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me”. And then the scripture says that “when he heard this, he became very sorrowful“.
Who can you identify yourself with? Jesus’ disciples or the rich young ruler? The obvious is that His disciples left everything and followed Him. They walked in faith not knowing where Jesus was going to take them. They were not possessed by their jobs or held back by their families. Instead, when they were called, they simply listened and followed. No questions asked. The rich young ruler wanted to inherit the kingdom of God and yet he could not, because he did not forsake everything. He still held onto his possessions, and because his material wealth was his stumbling block, he walked away sorrowful.
Jesus calls us to leave it all behind and follow Him. For the things that are before us are beyond our imaginations. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him” 1 Corinthians 2:9.
