Jesus Answers, Would Be Followers

Luke 9:62  

And Jesus said unto him, "No man, having put his hand to the plough, 

and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."  

   Jesus' told these men point blank what it meant to follow Him. To the first man, Jesus" advice was, "Before you follow me, count the cost." No one can ever say that he was induced to follow Jesus under false pretenses.  It might be that we have caused great hurt to our Churches by letting people think that church membership is just a membership. We ought to tell them that is only but a part of  counting the cost of following Christ! We might have fewer people; but those we had would be really pledged to Christ. 
   Jesus' words to the second man sound harsh, "Let the dead bury the dead." In all probability the man's father was not dead, and not even nearly dead. His saying most likely meant, "I will Follow you after my father has died." The point Jesus was making is that in everything there is a crucial moment; if that moment is missed the thing most likely will never be done at all. The man in the story had stirrings in his heart to get out of his spiritually dead surroundings; if he missed that moment he would never get out.   
   Jesus'  words to the third man state a truth which no one can deny. No plowman ever plowed a straight furrow looking back over his shoulder. There are some whose hearts are in the past. They walk forever looking backwards and thinking of the good old days.
   My Friends, Those furrows of the past will get you off your path of Hope today, So don't look back, look forward and follow Christ; Because the kingdom is not, "Backwards!" but, "Forwards!" To these men and all others as well; Jesus is not saying either, "Follow!" or, "Return!" He is saying, "I accept no lukewarm service," and lets us make our own decision.
Amen!

Reading; Luke:9:57-62
Ref: HG SB

God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry