Follow Me

My oldest son and I were walking around the block. He was 4 years old and on a Big Wheel. Big Wheels were heavy plastic tricycles that were low to the ground and deafening if the child was at top speed with the wheels clattering. We came to the crest of a hill on the next street and the vision of his bike hurtling through space at warp speed must have invaded his very soul. My kid shot down that hill as if he were fired out of a cannon. It took a couple of seconds to reach top speed and a couple of seconds for me to react because at the bottom of the hill, the street dead ended into a very busy street that was usually....busy! I was running, yelling and screaming and waving my arms wildly to get his attention. Images of him plastered on the driver’s side panel of a car flashed in front of me. At top speed of I’m sure over 100 mph, he hit the middle of the main road, grabbed the hand brake, whirled the bike around, put his hands on his legs and calmly said, "Were you calling me?" at which point, I passed out. There were no cars on the road at that moment...only my son, sitting placidly on his bike in the middle of the road, wondering why I was so hysterical.

So often, we’re like my son. God is saying, "Stay with Me. Let me lead. Follow." And we’re heading down the hill at breakneck speed in front of Him. If He yelled at the top of His voice, we wouldn’t hear. We’re too engrossed in the ride, caught up in the moment. So much for the still small voice of God. That’s only discernable if we are right up close, following....not way out in front pedaling as fast as we can with reckless abandon.

Jesus said, "Follow Me."

Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they....follow me."

Jesus did not say, "Follow Me only when you're in crisis...when you’re in trouble, when you run out of money, when your marriage is falling apart, when you don’t know what to do with your child."

Jesus did say however, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." (Matt 16:24) This is total commitment. Full surrender. 24/7. If He takes a hard right, you don’t miss it. You weren’t headed straight ahead in front of Him at full speed with so much noise from other people, you couldn’t hear Him say, "Turn here." You weren’t so focused on the ride, you didn’t even see Him turn.

The real question is, do you want to lead...or follow? Does it just depend? Do we, if truth be known, just consider it one of many options? How many times do we need to get whacked by cars on a busy thoroughfare before we decide He leads far better than we do?

How exactly do I follow?

I listen every day. I read His word and listen to what He says. I pray and listen. I anticipate that He’ll give me direction through His Word, through godly people and through circumstances that do not contradict his word.

Jesus prayed this prayer. "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise and clever, and for revealing it to the childlike." He will reveal it to those with childlike faith, who are listening, fully focused on what He is saying.

So what is our expectation? Do we expect Him just to speak to the masses in general terms or to me in particular? Are we childlike or wise and clever, figuring it all out for ourselves?

Are we way on down the road? Or are we following, listening. Are we dancing out in front of the Mighty Fortress, the Impenetrable Shield? Or are we behind it, knowing we’re safe and the enemy has to go through Him before he touches us.

Follow closely. You don’t want to miss one word. It’s just too good.