Back when my son was two years old, he went going through the "security blanket" stage. We almost couldn't get him to go to sleep without it. When he was hurting, tired or upset, he wanted his "Blankie."

Like my son, we all have our security blankets. They're not as visible as his is, but they are just as real. We think we can't live without them. We actually have traded in our security blankets for other things.

We disguise them as necessities or as status symbols, but in essence, they are our source of security. Security blankets are nothing more than a dose of the familiar in the midst of uncertain surroundings. They give us a sense of control in a world that is often out of control. What do they look like?
  • Relationships (especially spouses)
  • Job/Career
  • Money
  • Things (car, house, clothes, computer, etc.)
  • Gangs
  • Drugs/alcohol
  • Sports/hobbies (something we succeed at)

Matthew 4:18-22 says:
And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
(Matt. 4:18-22)

After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." So he left all, rose up, and followed Him.
(Lk. 5:27-28)
Here we have two stories of people who left absolutely everything to follow Jesus. They left their occupation, source of income, security, future, family and friends.

There was something about this itinerant Rabbi that warranted forsaking everything else for the pursuit of his purposes and teaching. A first-time encounter with him (seemingly by chance) brought about a reckless abandon in their lives.

I have often wondered why we have not been so quick to leave all for Jesus. Was theirs a culture that was given to such things? Is it that we are in a society that overvalues relationships and things? Or is it that we are too concerned with temporal things?

I believe it is a combination of reasons. The first reason is that we haven't met the REAL Jesus. He had this amazing ability to attract a crowd. People followed him because of his miracles and his teachings. But there was something else...something so radically different about him.

He had a confidence that they had never seen before. When he taught, the people remarked that, unlike other Rabbis, he taught as one who had firsthand experience, not as a philosopher or sage. He taught truth, not theory. When he spoke, he connected with their hearts, not just their intellect. He was able to put spiritual truth into a digestible form.

When you looked into his eyes, you saw a quiet confidence. He was a true leader. Not that he trumpeted or proclaimed how great he was...no, it was more than that. He spoke of God as his father - from experience! He seemed to have a direct line to God like no one else. His confidence came from knowing who he was and who God was.

It also came from knowing his purpose in life. He was so focused on his mission that nothing else even mattered. He unabashedly asked others to selflessly adopt His cause as their own (Matt. 10:37-39 & 16:24-26). He even used the term "take up your cross" (the cross was known as a place of suffering and death) to represent sacrificing your way of life for the one He offered.

He also had an amazing ability to make people feel welcome around him. Even the tax collectors (Mafioso) and the prostitutes felt comfortable in his presence. This disturbed the religious ruling class. Any self-respecting, upwardly mobile Rabbi wouldn't even be in the same vicinity as "them!"

He seemed to prefer the company of these he referred to as "lost" to the religious leaders anyway. He didn't care who people were or about their position in society. He even considered women important (a scandalous thing in that day). Everyone had an equal opportunity with him.

How could you not follow one like him? He was a man's man -- unafraid of the consequences and repercussions his words and miracles might bring. He never missed the opportunity to confront those who had a condescending attitude. He was a man of character and integrity.

Doesn't sound like the Jesus that is taught from many pulpits, does it? I believe if we truly see him as he is, we'll lay down everything else just for the opportunity to get to know him better.

Copyright © CFAITH All rights reserved.