“Stuck” on Jesus

Have you ever had one of those life events which just “stuck” on you? I remember when I received Jesus as my LORD and Savior asking forgiveness for sins. I remember being baptized about 2 weeks later. I remember attending church from the time I could begin remembering.

But there’s one thing that stuck. It was Jesus. It was His Word. I was fascinated and even obsessed with His Word. I know now, it was not the mysteriousness of it, nor the uniqueness of it, but rather the power in it. Yep, I went through some times of rebellion. Yes, there were days I followed Him at a “distance” but Jesus was stuck on me.

Now, something I noticed along the way. Not everyone who professed faith in Christ was “stuck” on Him. I always wondered why I was different that way. Now, I know. Jesus didn’t “stick” with some people. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not referring to eternal security or even a lost faith. I am writing concerning the act of the will.

The old song says, “I have decided to follow Jesus…no turning back, no turning back.” I found out the hard way that “turning back” is an act of the will. We don’t “follow” Jesus by just being around His people (the church), or by doing “good” things, or attending camps, conferences, retreats, etc. No, you really have to decide to “follow” Jesus – EVERY DAY.

Hundreds of people I’ve known in the past made a one-time decision to “follow” Jesus and they are no longer following Him. Why? Jesus didn’t stick. Now a few of those have come back to Him, because apparently Jesus did “stick” but He was more of an annoyance or an irritation to spur that person back to Him. Much like He did me. Praise Him for the Holy Spirit – who never leaves us!

John states in his first letter, “…they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us. (1 John 2:19 NAS) The NLT states it this way, “These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.”

Are you STUCK on Jesus? Is He STUCK on you? Or are you stuck on the things of this world?

Don’t be an eternal statistic. Be a follower – there’s no greater life. Receive your marching orders from Him today. Proverb 18:24 says this, “A man of many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who “sticks” closer than a brother.” Yes, that friend is Jesus.

Pastor Cliff