Key Passage: Luke 9: 61-62

And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

My father was crossed with me when I gave my life to Jesus because he believed that I broke the family tradition. The issue was raised at a meeting of some of the elders of our kindred and they decided that I should abandon my newfound faith and concentrate on my law degree. I did not obey them because I knew that I had gone on a journey of no return in following Jesus and I had broken the bridge. There was no going back. Things were difficult for me in my family for a while, but few years later, my father accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and some other members of my family did the same.

The man in the above passage desired to follow Jesus but wanted first to go and settle with the people in his home. The reply Jesus gave makes it clear that God is not interested in casual commitments. We must be ready to put in our all in following Him or we will have no place in His Kingdom.

There are three lessons we could learn from Jesus’ reply. Firstly, we owe no man an apology for our decision to follow Jesus. He is the only way to God and the only one that can give man eternal salvation. Secondly, we need to bring everything we have along with us in following him. We should bring along our families, friends, marriages, careers and businesses. Remember that what we do not bring along in our discipleship can pull us out. Thirdly, we must be focused on our heavenly mission and not be distracted, if we must make it. When a man is plowing, he uses one hand to hold the goad and the other hand to hold the plow-handle, which is used to steady the oxen and synchronize their movement. He also looks straight ahead to ensure that the furrow is straight. He stays focused in the process knowing that any distraction could be disastrous as the oxen could go out of course and make the furrow crooked.

“Looking back” is perilous for a person on a heavenly journey. Lot’s wife was almost saved from the destruction of Sodom, but she looked back and became a pillar of salt (Gen 19:26). What a tragedy to get so far and yet be damned? But that is a warning for us to walk with God with an undivided mind, and stay our eyes on the Master: “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb 12:2). “Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul” (Heb 10:38-39).

Pray: Lord, help me to stay focused on my heavenly vision and never look back.

Written by – Evangelist Oguazi Onyemobi