It's hard to follow Jesus, but it is the most worthwhile thing you could do.
I never really thought about this statement until recently when one of my squadmates posted a documentary a few weeks ago about a team of young men who journeyed out to the Nomadic lands of Mongolia (one of the countries that I will have the pleasure of visiting while on my race) to preach the gospel to those who have never heard the name of Jesus. At one point in the documentary you see one of the men preaching the gospel to the Mongolian people through a translator. I was taken by the simplicity and honesty of his words as he spoke. Of the many words spoken at that time, something resonated when he spoke "It's hard to follow Jesus, but its the most worthwhile thing you could do".
I feel as though there is a stigma that goes around that by accepting Christ somehow a person's life will become easier. It all seems right: you accept Christ, never struggle with sin, get rich, live a life of luxury and wait until the moment when you get to go to heaven, right? Wrong. The truth of the matter is that becoming a Christian does not ensure and easy life; in fact quite the opposite is true. If you struggle with doubts, or sin, or with not feeling adequate enough for the life God is calling you to, or feeling overwhelmed by the situations around you, perhaps you are doing something right.
In the book of James, it is written: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." Matthew 16:24 clues us into the kind of life we will have by following Jesus: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me..for whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it".
The paradox of following Jesus is this: in following him to the grave through suffering for his name, we will be given something much greater than the world could ever offer us. A chance to know and be known by our creator. To be given purpose and meaning. The very longing of our souls fulfilled. A chance to worship our Lord.
Following Jesus is hard, but it is the most worthwhile thing you could do.
