Don’t be a Fair Weathered Follower

“At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:66-69 NLT

In a story titled “Kenyan runner creates new record for Shanghai Marathon” published Sunday, it was reported that fine weather helped Kenyan runner Philimon Kiptoo Kipchumba to create a new record of 2:05:35 for the Shanghai Marathon. Some 38,000 runners from home and abroad set off from the Bund on Sunday morning. The previous record was created by Kipchumba's compatriot Paul Lonyangata in 2015, who completed the 42-kilometer race in 2:07:14. This is also the best men's record among all marathon events in China. "This is my first visit to Shanghai," said the 25-year-old Kenyan. "The course is beautiful and the weather is just perfect, helping me to creating a new record."

And you know, when it comes to fine weather, we as believers must be determined to follow Jesus no matter how difficult it might become. In other words, we can’t be fair-weathered Christians who follow Him only when the conditions are perfect or exactly to our liking. You see, in Jesus’ day just as in ours, there are people who ‘believe’ in Him as long as they are seeing miracles and being fed (aka getting something without any commitment or sacrifice). But after Jesus explained that it was all done to point to the spiritual truth that He was the Son of God and that there was no other way to heaven barring a total and complete commitment to Him, many of the so-called disciples “turned away and deserted him.” Then and now, only those who, like Peter, understand and wholeheartedly believe that eternal life is found in no one but the “Holy One of God” will stay. 

So if you were to asked to rate your level of committedness today, what would it be? If your answer was anything but fully and totally devoted, you’re in a dangerous place my my friend, because fair-weathered followers won’t make it to heaven. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the Word that tells us exactly what it takes to make it to heaven, and that’s a full and total commitment to Jesus Christ. If any person reading this has not fully surrendered their life to You, I pray that today is the day they will do it so they will inherit the eternal life that only You can give. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!