Follow Christ wholeheartedly (1)

If there is any decision we need to make this New Year, if there is any resolution we must stand by this year, is that we will wholeheartedly follow the Lord. This will set us apart from others, and attract His beneficence on us. God did this, especially for one man in the Bible, Caleb, about whom He testified that he “followed (Him) fully.”

Moses had sent 12 spies to search out the Promised Land, which the Lord had assured was a land flowing with milk and honey. Each spy represented a tribe in Israel. When they came back, 10 of them gave an evil report that discouraged the Israelites from moving on. However, Caleb and Joshua were confident about possessing the land and overcoming the giants that occupied it, because they were certain the Lord was on their side.

Some people always bear evil, discouraging and fearful report. They aver that evangelism, church planting, church growth, living a holy life and doing the will of God are not possible, especially at a time like this. Although they acknowledge the grace of God, they always have a “but” attached to their faith, commitment and consecration. The spies that brought the evil report to Moses wanted to follow the Lord but not wholeheartedly. Caleb gives us a sterling example of following the Lord with all the heart, soul and mind, without any string attached. Today, the Lord is in search of believers who would manifest similar courage and follow Him fully.

God had been referring to Moses as “my servant;” but “because (Caleb) had another spirit,” the heart and spirit of a conqueror, the Lord conferred the same title on him. Our God is not in search of people who flock with the crowd but those who swim against the tide. As Caleb was rewarded with entrance into and possession of the land, Christ rewards and confers a special blessing on believers who follow Him wholeheartedly daily, irrespective of the challenge they may encounter on their way to heaven. He makes such people strong physically, spiritually and psychologically, and blesses them with every necessary material possession.

The choice to follow Christ wholeheartedly is not a community or family affair. The decision for the Kingdom and the work of God is personal. If you always rely on others’ opinion to make up your mind, you will not be able to make the decision to follow the Lord wholeheartedly. “Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.” If the Lord helped Caleb to make the personal choice, He can help you as well. This decision does not only apply to males; Ruth is an example that shows that females can also decide to follow the Lord single-mindedly and wholeheartedly. To do this successfully, you must “seek the LORD: (and) look unto the rock whence ye are hewn.” Looking up to any person for reassurance and inspiration will make you slow down and discouraged when they stop following the Lord.

Christ has gone to establish a Kingdom and many people want to be part of it. But He says anyone that would come into the Kingdom, “let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Following Christ is not a bed of roses; it requires self-denial, because difficulty, opposition, negative comments, lack of support, etc., will threaten to dissuade us from continuing. When confronted by any of these, anything or anyone that would contest our love for the Lord, we must resolve to put love for Christ and following Him first. We must beware and make the personal choice not to exchange following the Saviour for anything because anyone who sidelines the Lord would lose all on earth, and most importantly, “lose his own soul” in eternity.

• Further Reading (King James Version): Numbers 14:24; 13:26-30; Joshua 14:7-14. Joshua 14:7,8; Ruth 1:16-18; Isaiah 51:1,2; Mark 8:34-37; Luke 9:23; John 21:19-22.