Following Jesus
by Noemi Chavez
The ways of Jesus have never been popular or easy to follow. I use the word “easy” cautiously because “easy” can be a point of reference or a point of view. I have heard many people say, “Following Jesus is hard.” But honestly, I don’t know that the results, the consequences and the pain that comes from sin are actually easier. The issue that surfaces with choosing to follow Jesus is that many of us came to the realization that we needed his grace, love and forgiveness, and in our self-serving nature we imagine this to be an undeniably phenomenal transaction. “Yes! We will give to you the darkness of our soul, the sins no one knows about, the mess in our hearts and disappointment of our choices in return for forgiveness, atonement and relief of the weight of our broken past.” I mean, what a deal! And for many, that is that. Salvation is a beautiful moment in our lives. What else could God possibly have in store for us?
In our limited knowledge of all God is, we placed limits on him. Sometimes the far-off image we lived with continues to shape our view of his existence and any real human interaction. We imagined that all he is really able to do is deal with the sin of our past and so now, we are good to go. We missed the part where we are invited to a life that engages a supernatural God, a loving Savior and an ever-present companion—the Holy Spirit. Salvation is only the beginning, not the end, of the story God will tell through each one of us.
Just like any relationship that is worth anything to us, a relationship with our Savior will require the foundational building block of communication. Jesus is not a checklist experience. He does not want us to simply read a book about him (the Bible) and go to church on Sundays. I think about this in context of my marriage. What if my husband read a book that told him all about me and then a couple times a month, we go out on a date with twenty other couples and there is nothing happening in between those dates? No time together, no hugs, no kisses, no conversations, no laughing together, no sharing our heartbreaks and joys with one another. That is not a healthy relationship. Our God lovingly reaches for us, longs for our heart’s devotion, patiently waits for us and he never gives up.
The young, rich ruler in Mark 10 was convinced that the goal was salvation, so checking off the list of all the qualifying factors was all he thought he needed to do. Jesus’s desire was not only for eternity, but for the present. This young man received the invitation of a lifetime—to join the disciples and follow Jesus. Can we just stop for a moment and consider what this invitation encompassed? It’s not just getting to witness firsthand the miracles Jesus did while he was here on earth. Let’s take a closer look at what more this invitation included. Jesus was offering this man the opportunity to walk and talk with the Creator of the heavens and the earth, from one town to the other. In between all of the miracles, signs and wonders, he would be able to converse with Jesus, laugh with him, ask questions and learn from being in communion with the Savior. This was not what the young ruler had in mind when it came to a life well lived. For him, his accomplishments, wealth and belongings would best tell the story of success. Life without those things was not an option. What Jesus offered was not enough for him.
I have walked with Jesus for over 30 years. Following Jesus is not the decision we make when our life’s goal is self-fulfillment or selfish ambition. In following this crucified and risen Savior, we discover that the narrative cultural celebration of personal gain and visibility is not the promise he makes. If we seek fame and glory, we will find ourselves feeling both unfulfilled and disappointed. So, when Jesus invites us to follow him, it requires that we actually believe that he is the win! Jesus never promised to satisfy our deepest longings by using the methods of the present-day culture. The step-by-step commitment to this journey of faith is a school of transformation that will show us that our deep fulfillment does not come from an outcome or a circumstance. The most satisfied version of ourselves emerges from the realization that the richness of life with Christ comes from simply that, a life with Christ.
When Scripture invites us to seek his kingdom first, it is guiding us through a map. This map is different than a pirate’s treasure map in that it has so many treasures. These are the treasures that neither moth destroys nor thieves can take. The discovery process with Jesus changes us. This seeking of the kingdom treasures will require commitment. How committed are we? Desperation can lock in this commitment. When I am trying to get my son, Stephen, to school I am committed to finding my keys. You’d better believe the focus and intentionality is real. I am looking in all the places these keys have been, where they could be and where others may have placed them. Seeking the kingdom of God requires this intentionality.
Intentionality. Let that word stick. Because it is a word that requires the collaboration of your time, your will and your focus. Where has God met me in the past? What has he done already? What is he whispering? Where is he leading? If Jesus were here now, where would I find him? How much of what I’m aiming for, striving for, chasing after would lose its attractive light or lack luster in the sight of the Savior I am following and the kingdom he is establishing. Intentionality will require the discipline of bringing my heart back to alignment with Jesus daily. That commitment is not a task, it is a daily response to His invitation: “Follow me.”
Walking closely with Jesus rearranges priorities and desires. It does not mean that the things you long for or dream about are meaningless to God. It means that our good God wants to be a part of those joys in your life. And when it is all said and done, we know and understand that with him everything is so much better.
Bringing our focus back is a daily struggle for us as believers. When we believe that following Jesus deeply fulfills our humanity, we then become an antidote to the ailing soul of a generation. We become more than the experience of salvation. Don’t get me wrong, forgiveness is the key to freedom, but it is in the following that our lives are healed, our minds renewed and our paths rerouted. As people of faith, the miracle-working power of the spirit of God in us becomes an answer for healing and hope in others. This work I speak of is a deep work, and it requires trust in the goodness of God even when things are not good, or when outcomes are not celebration-worthy. The credibility of our witness is not based on the public success or the shiny things we acquire as we walk with Christ.
Instead, our witness is further amplified when our devotion to our Savior is not contingent on his collaboration with our every whim. Yet somehow, the Creator of our unique existence finds the way to fill our heart, cause our cup to overflow and satisfy our deepest desires with the treasure of his presence. The story he is writing in us produces the exceedingly abundant life we didn’t know how to ask for. He’s worthy of our follow. How many times has he invited us to follow Him? Countless. He doesn’t give up because he loves us so much and longs for us to experience his eternal truths unfolding in us. He wants to go on the treasure hunt with us! He knows we are human, and he remembers that we are dust. Our Lord knows the things in us that are frail and in this walk he wants to alert us, warn us, protect us. He knows we will be weak, and he wants to be strong for us. He sees the poverty of our soul and he wants to offer his riches. Because he sees the brokenness of our human condition and our faithlessness, he wants to prove that even then he is still faithful. He gives us so much more, and yes, it begins with salvation. I do love the Lord. He has been so good to me. He has never let me down. Jesus has never hurt my feelings. He’s never betrayed me. He’s a good friend.
I love going to places where there’s beauty, imagination, creative art and heart-rushing experiences! Sometimes on my sabbath, Jesus and I go to museums, and if I can, at least once every two years I go to Disneyland (Jesus and I invite my husband, Josh, to that one). Can I be really silly and simple minded for a minute? Ok, thanks! I was going to do it anyways, so here it goes. I sometimes imagine that salvation is the ticket entry to Disneyland in the hands of an eight-year-old girl. Stay with me. I’m not on a heretical path here; just humor me for a minute. Can you picture her joy and excitement in receiving this gift? How incredible is this moment? In the simplest form, a gift brings great joy. But wait, there’s more! Salvation does not begin and end there. What does this ticket entry in her hands actually mean? Well, I like to think the invitation to follow Jesus means you actually get to go to the theme park. So, guess what? Jesus has offered us his Salvation, but has also invited you and me to follow him, to experience life with him. He will never stop inviting us because he is more than the ticket for the entry. He knows what awaits on our journey with him. Jesus knows that it will change how you view the world, how you see yourself and what you know about him. So many treasures to find, so many sights to see, so many conversations to be had! He’s thrilled for you to take his hand and join him on the journey. He is worthy of our follow.
