PARSON TO PERSON: Have you decided to follow Jesus?

I am very concerned for the state of Christianity and those who claim to be Christians. I read a recent article which stated that 75% of polled Americans claim to be Christian. That should be an excellent statistic, right? I should rejoice in that right? This is why I am concerned. Read with me what I believe is the scariest scripture in the Bible.

Matthew 7:21-23 (NLT)

'Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day, many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God's laws.'”

Is that not the most sobering scripture in the Word? To think there has been, there are and there will be those who claim Christianity, who go on mission's trips, who attend church regularly, who are on this committee and that committee yet don't have a relationship with Jesus and don't know Him.

In other word's the title of a Christianity loses its value if we aren't following Jesus!

So, you may have said a prayer accepting Jesus, you may now go to church and be involved in small groups, but my question is, are you following Jesus? What does that look like? Lets read.

Luke 9:57-62 (NIV)

'As they were walking along, a man said to Him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.' Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.' He said to another man, ‘Follow me.' But he replied, ‘Lord, first let go home and bury my father.' Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.' Still another said, ‘I will follow You, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.' Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts their hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God.'”

I do, indeed believe that 75 percent of polled Americans claim Christianity, I am less confident that 75 percent of Americans follow Jesus. Could it be because following Jesus costs?

Matthew 16:24-26 (NIV) says,

'Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciples must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

Following Jesus costs. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved, the Bible says. Once you have done that, FOLLOW JESUS. God bless and have a great weekend!