Will Ye Go Away Also?

There exists certain things in this world that are very popular. People just can’t get enough of it. Obeying the laws and commandments of Jesus Christ is not one of those things. Talking about serving Jesus Christ is done a lot. Just talking about serving Jesus Christ or pretending to be his saints isn’t going to save our souls. Acts 2:40 tells us to “Save yourselves from this untoward generation.” Let’s add works to our faith and prove we love Jesus Christ. (Read James 2:17-20).

As Jesus was teaching in St. John 6, many of his disciples stopped following him. Verse 66, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” Sometimes people will follow the crowd and react with the crowd despite how they feel. Jesus asks his twelve apostles a question after this. Verse 67 “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” Verse 68-69 “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And, we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” Despite what the majority of people were doing, Peter knew there was no place he could go but to Jesus to get the teachings he needed to achieve eternal life. The same is true for today. If we are going to achieve eternal life for righteousness, then we must align ourselves with Jesus Christ and his teachings. My own opinions and imaginations must be cast down. II Corinthians 10:5 says, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” Any thought that doesn’t correspond with the gospel of Christ, we must put it down. (Read I Peter 2:11)

There was a man in Matthew 19:16-22 who came to Jesus and asked him how could he have eternal life. Jesus told him to obey the commandments. He said he had kept them from his youth. What else did he need to do? Verse 21 “Jesus said unto him, if thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.” Verse 22 “But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” The natural things that this man had was more important than saving his soul. (Mark 10:24) You may wonder if Jesus told this to every rich man he met? The answer is no. If your riches are standing between you and salvation he will let you know so you can decide for yourself. Read the story of Zacchaeus. Jesus didn’t mention money but Zacchaeus said half of his goods he gives to the poor and if he has taken anything by false accusation he would restore him fourfold.1 What in our life is more important than serving Jesus Christ?

Serving Jesus Christ can’t be just a fad that comes and goes. St. John 8:31 “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;” We must continue every day doing what God wants us to do. James 1:25 tells us more. “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” The point is, we must obey these laws because we want to save our soul.

There won’t be a mass multitude that obeys the gospel completely. People will reach a certain point and stop, just as they did in Jesus’ time. The ones who endure to the end, they shall be saved. Read Matthew 10:22; II Timothy 4:3; James 1:12. The blessings that we receive while we are working towards saving our soul, will help us reach our goal. Let’s not just talk about saving our soul, let’s do what needs to be done to accomplish it. Make sure you are one of the few that find that narrow way.2 Come to Bible study and learn more about saving your soul. It will make your shouting in worship service mean more.

Co-Pastor Michael Miller

•Luke 19
•Matthew 7:14