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Follow Me, Part I
This is our last installment in the study of keeping our focus upon Christ. We first determined the importance of learning from Christ. And once we learn something, we apply it or do it. In this case we are to do as Christ did. And now, we study perhaps the most important issue of focus: following Christ unto greatness down the Path of Righteousness. This is the path by which God is glorified and man is blessed.
If any one wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me, Mt. 16:24
We quickly see there are two prerequisites in following Christ: deny self and taking up one's cross. Like too many scriptures, this one has been tortured beyond recognition. This is due to carnal, unspiritual thinking. It has been commonly taught that to deny self and bare one's cross are fulfilled through some sort of monasticism (religious retirement) and/ or asceticism (self-torture), two prospects that most sane people find unappealing. Such ridiculuous interpretations leave few desiring to follow Christ, and those that do, follow someone other than the True Shepard .
God has a purpose for us
Fact is, there is nothing in scripture that says anything as the above. The context does speak to a state of mind. It is a focus on God's interests, not man's. Denying self means to lay down one's self interests, temporal plans, and worldly vision. But with that said, it does not mean to vegetate in the mountains somewhere. WE are to remain IN the world, but not OF it. God does have a purpose for us. Hence, take up your cross.
God had a purpose for His Son, and Christ unveiled this purpose following Peter's declaration that Christ was the Son of the living God. He told His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, to suffer many things by the religious elite, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. In retrospect, we know He speaks of the cross. The cross was God's plan and purpose for His Son. Going to the cross is not His purpose for you and I.
His purpose for you and I is revealled only as we separate or remove ourselves from a worldly viewpoint. This viewpoint states that man is the center of the universe, and all revolves around him. He, and he alone, through his efforts and ability will solve the problems of the world. He will do this by changing man's environment either through political, economic, scientific, or any other means at his disposal. His reasoning rests upon the theory that if poverty can be abolished, and that world peace can be established, all will be well and good. (Of course, environment has never been the issue. Just ask Adam and Eve.)
Furthermore, we also are to separate ourselves from a hedonistic lifestyle devoid of virtue and values, and/or the ever growing popularity with occultic practices (i.e. new age, white magic, charismatic occultism).
Those that separate themselves from the world unto God show an intent to honor God and to please Him. However, do not let others tell you this can be accomplished through religious or other spiritual means. God's Word is very clear here: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me, Jn. 14:6. Therefore, Christ is the One to follow.
This famous statement has a double meaning-one to the unbeliever, the other to the believer. Let me first quickly summarize them for you below.
Unbeliever
- way to salvation
- Gospel is the truth
- Eternal Life
Believer
- Path of Righteousness is the way
- God's Intimate Counsel (IC) is the truth/spiritual food
- The Glory Blessings-life beyond all we could ask or think
