Are you a follower or a fan? Kyle Idleman poses this question to all Christians everywhere to gauge where you are in your walk with Jesus Christ. He challenges us to examine our level of commitment to following Jesus on a day to day basis.
A story from the Bible describing the level commitment being a follower or fan is in John Chapter three when Nicodemus comes to visit Jesus. John 3:2 says, He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with God." Nicodemus believed that Jesus was the Son of God but he didn't want to sacrifice anything in his life of his high position for Jesus. He came to Jesus as a fan. Becoming a follower, requires a total commitment.
Jesus explains to Nicodemus in verse three that he must be born again to see the kingdom of God. In verse five and six Jesus describes the being born again involves the water and spirit. Jesus says in John 3:5-8, "I tell you the truth , no one can be enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the spirit gives birth to spirit. 'You should not be surprised at me saying, You must be born again. The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear it's sound, but you cannot tell where it's coming or where it's going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
Nicodemus had memorized the first five books of the Bible and tried to do all the religious things his whole life. He didn't realize the amount of life change and sacrifice a relationship of God required. He thought it was just about following a set of rules or making a decision. Nicodemus wanted to give Jesus a part of him not all of his life, therefore he became a fan.
In John chapter 19, Nicodemus finally makes a commitment to become a follower a Jesus' burial. In verse 19:30 it describes Nicodemus giving a mixture of myrrh and aloes, which is about 75 pounds. In those times, 75 pounds was a very large amount. This kind of amount was used for royal burials. This was a very costly and expensive gesture toward Jesus, signifying a change from fan to follower of Jesus.
Churches and various types of ministries have emphasized believing in Jesus too much, therefore we end up having fans of Jesus not true followers of Jesus. People making decisions to follow Jesus is a good thing eternally but Jesus will not accept a half of a commitment he wants our whole lives. Our level of commitment determines where we will go to be with Jesus in heaven not whether we accept him or not.
Therefore, as I transition to the close of this blog I am going to leave you with a quote describing this level of commitment. In Matthew 7:13-14 at the close of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road the leads to life, and only a few find it."
Following Jesus requires a total life change. It is a commitment that is transforming. It is sacrificing everything we have to follow him daily. Followers sacrifice their whole lives to a relationship with Jesus Christ.
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