Are we following Him today?

When I was 14 I was quite smug in the fact that I did well in Religious Studies, that is, I could recite bible stories and did well in the section about Christianity. That said, I don't remember doing so well in remembering facts about old Anglican church buildings and the different areas they have. Anyhow, I was still internally pretty stoked that I knew Christianity. I went to the Christian Union that met in a Science room at a lunchtime and called myself a 'Christian' at that point. Whether I was or not I'll go into later. (For reference sake, when I use the term 'Christian' I mean someone who intentionally follows Jesus the Christ)

What I remember from doing Sunday school in church, I recall learning a lot of bible stories but I cannot say for sure whether I was listening with my heart or my head. What I do know is that whilst learning the things that happened to Gods people that were recorded in the Bible, my mindset having accumulated that information was one of pride and a false belief that knowing the facts of history was enough. There is knowing stuff, but then there should be a response. In one sense, I did not know any better, and yet, according to my parents, I said a prayer to Jesus a couple of times when I was very young, asking Him into my heart. Whilst that may be true, I did not live a life submitted to Jesus. I stole, I got drunk, I cut myself, I was full of pride, I was arrogant, I was attention seeking, I did not honour men nor myself. 

Did then my prayer have any power? Did it mean anything? Maybe God honoured that simple prayer said by a child, I don't know. This I do know though, I have known Gods protection over my life, as I look back on times where my life was in danger, or where I could have been in greater darkness and despair. I have been very blessed to have grown up in a Christian home, and my parents church family, I am certain, have been praying for me since they knew I was to be born and through all of my life. So, I have known something of the effect of the power of prayer in that respect.

But then, when did I become a Christian? Well, I'm not entirely sure I can even pinpoint a day or time. Perhaps that is an unhelpful question. Should we have the mindset that becoming a Christian is a one time happening event and then we sit happy in life and nothing else happens until we die and go to heaven?

I think, rather, that following Jesus needs to be a daily thing. I imagine it this way- Jesus called people to drop what they were doing and follow Him, and many did. But each day they have a choice to continue to follow Him or not. I don't think it makes their initial following of Jesus null and void, but everyday there is that option of accepting or rejecting Jesus. And, when you fall in love with someone, or when you get to know someone amazing, you don't easily leave them, do you? Same goes for Jesus, who embodies TRUE LOVE itself and is amazing!

I don't mean to make this sound trite or not serious, it's not like we should yo-yo from following Jesus to not every other day, but there will be a day when Jesus will return in full glory on clouds and all of creation will bow before Him (for how can anyone do anything else when they see the face of the LORD!), and, not knowing when He will come back, we must be ready to meet our Maker, because we will all be judged.

That may make you feel uncomfortable or angry, but it being an uncomfortable thing isn't the issue. The issue is, is it true? [Here's a quote I like: God comforts the disturbed and disturbs the comfortable.]

So, are we going to choose to follow Jesus today? Today, are we going to follow the One who said "If you've seen me, you've seen the Father"?