While on earth Jesus gave the invitation to many “come follow Me”, and He still gives it to us today.
It is overwhelming to grasp the enormous implications of this invitation. Actually, it allows Him to become our Great Shepherd, Guide and Mentor.
With Jesus as such, it becomes uniquely possible for us to achieve the best and most meaningful life. With Him training and instructing us, we are empowered to become the best version of ourselves.
The very kind of human we were created to be.
This is the invitation to be a disciple or apprentice of Jesus. In His Carpenter’s workshop for at least 10 years, He must have had many apprentices.
I can only imagine the quality of work He created, bearing in mind that He was the Carpenter of the Universe.
As the Psalmist said: “When I look at the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place… Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.” Psalm 8:3, 9.
It is a good thing to wake up to the reality that living as a disciple and follower of Jesus is the easiest way to live.
Friedrich Nietzsche said: “The essential thing is… that there should be long obedience in the same direction which thereby results in… life worth living.”
Life is much harder for those who insist on “doing it my way.”
In the words of Proverbs 13:15 “The way of the faithless is their ruin.”
H.H. Farmer said: “If you go against the grain of the universe you get splinters.”
Ultimately, all the world’s problems including hunger for food, will never be solved by world governments, or the United Nations, but also significantly by disciples of Jesus, who respond to His message to “love your neighbour as yourself.”
Many, like the “rich young ruler”, when realising the full implications of Jesus’ invitation “come follow me”, walk away very sad, all because of materialistic values.
The truth that Jesus emphasised, was the reality that if we follow Him, He must become life’s highest value, and source of meaning.
What an incredible opportunity this young man missed.
He could have had the King and architect of the universe as his Guide, but because of his worldly values that blinded him, he sadly lost out on the wonder of having Jesus as his lifelong Mentor. Matthew 19:16-26.
