Will You Follow Jesus?

This month, Sis. Rita joins us with a heartfelt devotion that I’m honored to share with you. As our freedom becomes more uncertain, I pray that the church will rise with courage and declare: We will follow Jesus! – Richard Blythe

Many years ago, there was a great revival in Wales. As a result of this, many missionaries came to north-east India to spread the Gospel. The region known as Assam was comprised of hundreds of tribes who were primitive and aggressive head-hunters.

These missionaries came spreading the message of love, peace, and hope in Jesus Christ. They were not welcomed, but one missionary succeeded in converting a man, his wife, and two children. This man’s faith proved contagious and many villagers began to accept Christianity.  Angry, the village chief summoned all the villagers. He then called this family forward to renounce their faith in public or face execution.

Moved by the Holy Spirit, the man instantly composed a song that became famous down through the years. He sang:

“I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back.”

Enraged at the refusal of the man, the chief ordered his archers to arrow down his two children. The chief then asked, “Will you deny your faith? You have lost both of your children. You will lose your wife too.”

But the man sang these words in reply:

“Though no one joins me, still I will follow. Though no one joins me, still I will follow. Though no one joins me, still I will follow. No turning back, no turning back.”

The chief was beside himself with fury and ordered his wife to be arrowed down. Now he asked for the last time, “I will give you one more opportunity to deny your faith and live.” In the face of death the man sang the final memorable lines:

“The cross before me, the world behind me. The cross before me, the world behind me. The cross before me, the world behind me. No turning back, no turning back.”

These individuals willingly gave their lives for Christ. But with their deaths, a miracle took place. The chief who had ordered the killings was so moved by the faith of this man. He wondered, “Why should this man, his family die for a Man who lived in a far-away land on another continent some 2,000 years ago? There must be some remarkable power behind this family’s faith, and I too want to taste that faith.” In a spontaneous confession of faith, he declared, “I too belong to Jesus Christ!” When the crowd heard this from the mouth of their chief, the whole village accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour!

Freedom At Stake

If you have been keeping up with the news, you are fully aware that our Supreme Court voted 5-4 in favor of keeping strong restrictions on churches. The Chief Justice stated that he would not join conservative judges’ escalating efforts to override public health measures in the name of religion. Oh! How we have fallen away from what our forefathers fought and stood for.

With that being said, we don’t know how long we have to enjoy religious freedom. What if tomorrow you were brought to stand before a judge for your faith. Would you have the courage to say, I have decided to follow Jesus?  

I recently heard a story of a man who is a great musician from Cuba. When he was 10 years old, he had won a contest for his musicianship, but would not receive his award unless he stood up before the crowd and denied God! He said that for him it was a no brainer, he had been raised by parents who had taught him that it is better to obey God rather than man. He told them that he would not deny God for a trophy! They offered to send him to Moscow for training from the best but first, he had to sign a paper saying that he renounced Christ. He told them they were wasting their time! He would not deign the Lord! At 10 years old, he had decided to follow Jesus!

The Decision

May I ask, what would it take for you to walk away?  I think it’s time that we ask ourselves that question.  The man in our final story found such joy and peace in the love of Christ, that nothing would cause him to turn away.  Will you follow Christ when we have our freedom or when we don’t?  Will you follow Christ when you have health, money in the bank, etc or when you don’t?  May each of us find that place of commitment, that no matter what comes we will say, I have decided to follow Jesus!  No turning back!  No turning back!