John 6:66-69
From this time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him. “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked of the Twelve. Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.”
Having been raised in a Christian home and not becoming very rebellious, I didn’t have a dramatic conversion experience that made me have to change very much about how I had been living before I came to a personal faith in Christ. But there certainly were times when I questioned if all this stuff about the Bible and Jesus were true.
However, even at my lowest points, even when I would get thoughts that it just wasn’t worth it, I could never turn back. In my heart of hearts I understood what Simon Peter expresses here, “You have the words of eternal life. We (I) believe and know that You are the Holy one of God.”
I can’t explain why I have been blessed in such a way, with such a faith that going away isn’t an option. There’s such a mixture of joy that it is so and feelings of unworthiness because I know Jesus deserves a much better folower than I could ever be. He is so patient.
Then I also have a deep sorrow when I think of those who hear Jesus teachings and turn away because it is hard to follow. A friend of mine from the the Christian college we attended together seems very grieved by the number of our classmates who have ceased following Christ. How does that happen? How can, after tasting of the life Jesus offers, one just turn away? Oh how it must break the Father’s heart.
I must never become casual in my following the Holy One of God. There are so many distraction and wiles of the enemy that attempt to side track my walk. And not only must I see that I am following whole heartedly. I need to be an encouragement and example to those who are facing those intersections of crisis in their lives where they will choose to either follow or turn away.
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