Introduction

Today, we sang a familiar invitation hymn called "Wherever He Leads I’ll Go." But I wonder, do we truly mean those words? Are we willing to follow Jesus wherever He may lead us?

Imagine this scenario: you go to work tomorrow and your boss gestures for you to follow them. They lead you through the office, the factory, or even a field. In that situation, you would naturally follow.

I once heard a story about a preacher who was praying early one morning. As he prayed with his head bowed and eyes closed, his wife walked into the room and overheard his prayer. He said, "Father, I want to be perfectly in Your will. I am willing to do anything You ask of me, even if it means going into the heart of a deep, thick jungle or a faraway country." At that moment, his wife couldn't contain herself any longer and knelt down beside him. She placed her hand on his back and said, "Lord, if You lead him to one of those places, please give him a buddy, a friend who will go with him."

This story highlights the wife's lack of conviction in truly following God's leading. It makes me wonder how committed we are to following God ourselves.

Section 1: Decision of Faith

When we look at the phrase "I will go" in the scripture tonight, we can learn many things about these three simple words.

Firstly, saying "I will go" is a decision of faith. It takes a believer's faith to say those words and truly mean them. In the book of Ruth, we see Ruth's faith in action. Despite being a Moabite woman, she chose to stay with her mother-in-law, Naomi, and embrace the God of Israel. Ruth's faith led her to say, "Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God" (Ruth 1:16). She realized that her previous beliefs were not aligned with the truth and chose to follow God wholeheartedly.

Section 2: Declaration of a Victor

Secondly, saying "I will go" is the declaration of a victor. Victors are those who find victory. In the book of Judges, we see the story of Deborah, a woman leader who called on Barak to lead God's people to victory. Barak initially hesitated, but Deborah assured him that God would give him victory. Barak's response was, "If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go" (Judges 4:8-9). Barak recognized the importance of having God's presence and guidance in his journey towards victory.

Section 3: Negative Aspect of 'I Will Go'

However, there is also a negative aspect to the phrase "I will go." We see this in the story of Samson in the book of Judges. Samson had been blessed with great strength by God but allowed his pride and self-sufficiency to lead him astray. He disregarded the Nazarite vow and ultimately lost God's favor. When faced with his enemies, Samson arrogantly declared, "I will go out as at other times and shake myself free" (Judges 16:20). Little did he know that God had departed from him. This serves as a reminder that we should never rely on our own strength and self-sufficiency but always depend on God.

Section 4: Fellowship and Togetherness

On a more positive note, saying "I will go" can also refer to the fellowship we experience as believers. We often gather for fellowship events and celebrations, and there is joy in being together. However, fellowship is not the same if we choose to isolate ourselves. It is in the togetherness that we find true joy and blessings. Just as in 2 Kings 6:1-3, where the sons of the prophets came together to build a larger dwelling, we too find strength and encouragement in fellowship.

Section 5: Act of Repentance

Lastly, saying "I will go" can also represent the act of repentance. No matter how far we have strayed or how sinful our lives have become, God's love for us remains steadfast. The opportunity to repent and return to Him is always available. We need to humbly say, "I will go back to my Father" and seek His forgiveness and guidance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the phrase "I will go" holds great significance in our faith journey. It requires a decision of faith, a victor's mindset, humility, fellowship, and repentance. Let us be willing to step forward in our faith and relationship with Christ, saying with conviction, "I will go."

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