Many Are Called To Walk Alone

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth; I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.” Matthew 10:34-36

Many have a picture of Jesus in their minds which is not accurate. The gentle Jesus meek and mild is not the Jesus of the Word of God. The work that Jesus came to do involved his entering into the world which was under the dominion of Satan. When Adam fell, his authority over the world was lost to Satan, who took over. “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” 1 John 5:19 “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds THE GOD OF THIS AGE has blinded…” 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 The work that Jesus came to do was the greatest act of warfare the world has ever known. He entered into the domain of Satan, and through death and resurrection Jesus bore the judgment on sin for anyone who would receive him. However, many if not most, are blinded and refuse to surrender to the Savior, not wanting to come under his yoke, and they soundly spurn him. When a person is born again through faith in Jesus, that person will often be the only one in his family or among his friends to do so. Satan has a firm grip on the minds of the people in his domain, and has blinded the masses. The occasional person who will dare leave that domain and surrender his life to the Lord will often do that totally alone, and many will suffer alienation from their family and friends because of it. “I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.” Jeremiah 3:14 It can be a terrible choice to make. It can create great hostilities in the family. It can pit the born-again one against his parents, a daughter against her mother, etc, and the believer’s enemies may often be those in his own family. The call is to follow the Lord no matter what. If a person places family relationships before the Lord, that person won’t make it. This is a very serious issue and difficult to accept, but it is a fact one must accept in order to “forsake all and follow me.” “He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. And he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:37-38 Brothers and sisters, alienation from loved ones is a price we have to be willing to accept. We are called to leave all to follow Christ and many won't because they will find the cost too costly. It’s a very serious choice we will have to make, and if we choose Christ, it has to be an all-out surrender to the Lord who will lead us through our journey - alone if need be, but always with HIM. In the 6th chapter of John, we find Jesus saying some very hard things, things that were beyond understanding, and because of it many who followed him turned away at that point. “From that time many of his disciples went back and walked with him no more.” John 6:66 He didn’t try to explain, he didn't try to persuade them. He let them go. Then he turned to his disciples and asked if they wanted to leave too, giving them that option if they so desired. Peter gave the right answer: “But Simon Peter answered him: ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; also we have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’” John 6:68-69 The same question is put to all of us. It’s a choice each person must make in this lifetime, whether or not Jesus Christ is important enough to us, to follow him no matter what. Yes, we can pray for our family members who haven’t come in yet. God is faithful, he knows how we love our loved ones. But unless and until they join us, we have to pick up our cross and follow Christ no matter what. This will be too hard for many. The Lord is looking for those who will place nothing and no one before him, and who will pick up their cross, and follow him - no matter what.