Leave the World Behind

When we look at the passage of the rich man whom Jesus told to sell his things and follow Him, we might think wow, how can you have Jesus right in front of you and choose to keep your possessions instead of following the creator? That man became sad and didn't want to sell his stuff to follow Jesus. He wanted to hold on to all his earthly possessions.  “But when the young man heard that saying,

he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions (Matthew 19:22).”

We might think, how sad that he chose possessions over Jesus; but Are we guilty of the same thing? God says we are either for him or against him. He says that He wishes we were either hot or cold and that he will spit out the lukewarm. There is no gray area. There is no one foot in one foot out. You are either with him or against him. 

So are there things that the Lord has laid on your heart to give up and follow Him, that you still have not yet done? Maybe it might be secular music and listening to things that are of the world and not of Him and do not please Him. Maybe it is friends that you've had before you came to Him who are deeply involved in the world (bad character corrupts good morale). Maybe it's an idol of money. Or maybe there are things and you are not yet aware. 

We don't want to gain the world and lose our soul. Jesus says to pick up your cross and follow him. So ask him, “Jesus, what do you desire for me to lay down for you that I have not yet done?” And ask him for strength to forge you in the fire, to lay down whatever he has asked you to lay down, and to follow him. If there's something that he has asked you to lay down that you have not yet done and you are aware of, this would be the time to come to him in repentance, ask him for wisdom and strength, ask him for strategy, then lay it down leave the world behind and follow him!