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Growing up as an amateur athlete, I always dreamed of playing professionally. As a kid, adults made sure to tell me that the chances of becoming a professional athlete were pretty much nonexistent. Nevertheless, the odds didn’t stop me from pursuing it with all my heart.
In high school, it seemed as though my dreams were getting a little closer to becoming reality. I had the opportunity to train with professional athletes. This took my pursuits to another level. One day, it was as though a dream had actually become reality. One of the professional athletes came up to me and said, “There is a spot that just opened up for you to train with Randy Moss.”
Randy Moss is arguably one of the greatest professional football players of all time. And at the age of seventeen, I had the opportunity to train with him three times a week. Despite how passionate I claimed to be, the truth was that training with Randy Moss scared me out of my socks.
My trainers told me that training with him was the most intense thing that they had ever done. You were not allowed to wear gloves to help with your catching ability. And if you caught a football that hit the palm of your hand, Randy would say, “You dropped it.” If a football wasn’t caught strictly on your fingertips, it was counted as a drop whether the ball hit the ground or not. As if this wasn’t intimidating enough, I learned that there were other professional athletes at the training facility as well.
The amazing opportunity that I had right in front of me stayed right in front of me because of my fear and lack of courage. The reality is that my desire for comfort outweighed my desire for greatness. Despite all the fame and notoriety that Randy Moss had, I clung to comfort over potential success.
The interesting thing about coming to Christ is that I see people all over do the same thing. We claim to love Jesus more than anything, but we constantly choose what’s convenient and comfortable over Him each day.
"25 And when they found Him on the other side of the lake, they said to Him, Rabbi! When did You come here? 26 Jesus answered them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, you have been searching for Me, not because you saw the miracles and signs but because you were fed with the loaves and were filled and satisfied." - John 6:25-26 AMPC
The reality is that there were thousands of people that admired Jesus, possibly even millions. However, the amount of people to actually follow Him, unfortunately, can be counted on just a few hands.
"66 After this, many of His disciples drew back (returned to their old associations) and no longer accompanied Him. 67 Jesus said to the Twelve, Will you also go away? [And do you too desire to leave Me?]" - John 6:66-67 AMPC
We love our idea of Jesus holding the sheep on our refrigerator because as long as He stays on our fridge and doesn’t approach us, we don’t have to look at the harsh reality of how little commitment we have towards actually serving Him.
I knew without a doubt that Randy Moss could help me get to where I wanted to go because he had already been there and achieved any accomplishment that I could dream of. But the way that he was leading others to his level of greatness was far beyond what I actually wanted to do.
Similarly, we claim to love Jesus, but what if He says to focus on following God and not worry about your father who is about to die?
"59 And He said to another, Become My disciple, side with My party, and accompany Me! But he replied, Lord, permit me first to go and bury (await the death of) my father. 60 But Jesus said to him, Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and publish abroad throughout all regions the kingdom of God." - Luke 9:59-60 AMPC
We love our image of Jesus, but what about when He asks you to follow Him and not bother saying goodbye to your family?
"61 Another also said, I will follow You, Lord, and become Your disciple and side with Your party; but let me first say good-bye to those at my home." - Luke 9:61 AMPC
We love to say Jesus is our Lord, but what about when He asks you to give all of your possessions you worked your whole life for away and follow Him?
"21 Jesus answered him, If you would be perfect [that is, have that spiritual maturity which accompanies self-sacrificing character], go and sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; and come, be My disciple [side with My party and follow Me]." - Matthew 19:21 AMPC
What I’ve realized traveling from country to country over this past year is that no one really has a problem with Jesus. Nevertheless, His message and the way He lived His life seems to be nonexistent in most religious settings. However, it is not possible to truly worship Jesus without completely following Him on the path that leads back to God.
"12 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship." - Romans 12:1 AMPC
We see in the Bible that the Pharisees had no problem saying long prayers to God, but when God became manifested in the flesh right in front of them, they wanted to kill Him.
"7 And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking." - Matthew 6:7 AMPC
As we look forward, we must focus on following the ways of Jesus so that we can actually form a relationship with the Lord and Savior that we sing about. Paul encourgaes those who want to follow Jesus to follow him as he follows Christ. The reality is that there are a lot of people walking but only a few that are walking on the road that leads to eternal life.
"17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)" - Philippians 3:17-19 AMPC
Question of the Day: I know you admire Jesus, but if you saw Him today, would you leave everything and follow Him?