Are you a fan or a follower?

Today, the world is defining what it means to be a Christian in so many interesting ways. The disturbing part however is that we have created more fans for our Lord Jesus, than followers.

I guess you know who fans are. They sit with the cheer dancers, singing and jubilating as long as you keep winning. I have heard people say, “Chelsea for life” in one season and “Man-U for life” the next season. Fans really don’t care about the things you do to get to the top, all they want is for you to shine for them.

Does our Lord Jesus want us to be His fans? I would say, He wants His followers to be His fans. Followers stick around long after the cheering is over. They care about your interests beyond the pitch. Followers try to be as disciplined at their Master.

In Matthew 8:19-20, after all the astounding miracles done by Jesus, a young man who I believe was a fan made the bold declaration to follow Him. The Master was quick to give him the true picture- there are no mansions, no SUVs, body guards attached to this SuperMan! After that eye-opener, there was no other record of that man following Jesus.

Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” 

However, to us who have decided to follow Him, He says “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). He didn’t try to candy-coat the reality of following Him just so that His band stand will be filled. He wanted followers and not just fans.

If we are Christians, then we can’t just be fans. Fans have no business with self-denial. They will not give up anything of value for the Lord. Fans are ashamed of the Cross but celebrate its glory.

Followers are disciples of Jesus. That’s the life we are called to. We are called to represent the Master.

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. Luke 6:40.

Dear friend, train to be like the Master!

On the Las Vegas massacre...

Watching and listening to the news on the monstrous event that claimed the lives of 58 innocent people, points one to so many realities.

The man who committed this unt

hinkable evil, was an American who was living the ‘American dream’. He had never had to pay for electricity without any power supply. I can bet that he had never had the fender of his latest model SUV pull out because he made a wrong plunge into a ‘pot-hole’. I know for certain that he never drove a sick relative to a hospital and was told that doctors were on strike.

Stephen Paddock was blessed by human standards. He was rich enough to have owned two private aircrafts. He was also reported to have loved the Sin City, Las Vegas.
What could have gone wrong with such a man? It hasn’t been established that he was linked to ISIS or any other Islamic group. This was a premeditated evil; one that he spent money, time and careful planning to achieve.

Friend, no matter what the investigations throw up tomorrow, it is clear that this seemingly blessed man was frustrated, bitter and eaten up by the devil. It made me think about Luke 12:15 again – And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Indeed the content of our lives is not in the things we possess.
If such a wealthy man could feel so much emptiness to have committed such a mindless act, then it is certain that he lacked that one thing that makes life full and worth living- loving the Lord.

This incident and several others of its kind affirm the Scriptures in Matt. 24:12 and 2 Timothy 3:1-4 about the last days. Today, like no other time in history, the love of men are waxing dead cold, men are unloving, unforgiving, despisers of good, unholy, brutal, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

We are living in the last days; the signs are all here. The Bible also said that activities will be going on like nothing is wrong, to the point that men will not be mindful of these signs (Matt. 24:38 – 39 paraphrased).

The question for us is, “had I been one of the victims of this massacre, the hurricanes or the mudslide, would I have made it to eternity with Christ?’ Before you say, “God forbid”, please take time to answer this question honestly.

My heart goes out to the families and friends of the victims. May the Lord comfort you all.