Luke 9:51-62 Theme: Press on toward the goal
Text: 1 Kings 19:19-21; Phil. 3:12-21; Luke 9:51-62
Man is a spiritual being created in the image and likeness of God. In spiritual union with God he had authority and dominion to rule on earth. When man sinned he died spiritually and could no longer have any spiritual union with God. Worse still he had to relinquish his authority and dominion to Satan who became the God of this world. Instead of ruling the world man became a slave to the world’s new ruler Satan and could no longer fulfil God’s divine purpose. For God’s divine purpose to be restored and fulfilled God had to restore this spiritual union. This meant that God had to give man spiritual life again. He did this when Christ paid the penalty for our sin and made it possible for us to be born again spiritually. We should not deceive ourselves by thinking that we can receive spiritual life by coming to Church or by leading a good life. The Scriptures clearly reveal that no one can enter the Kingdom of God on the basis of his or her own efforts or good works. The only way to enter the Kingdom of God is to be born into this kingdom i.e. to be born again. After this spiritual birth it is necessary to grow spiritually and bear the characteristics of the kingdom of God in our lives. This is only possible when we press on toward the goal and take hold of that for which Christ Jesus has taken hold of us.
Christ is the One who calls us to receive spiritual life i.e. eternal life and become His disciples. We, however, have to respond to that call if we are to be born again into the family of God by accepting Christ as our Saviour and Lord. Being born into the family of God is to receive the nature and character of the family, i.e. the life and nature of Christ. We receive His Holy Spirit and become spiritually alive as citizens of the Kingdom of God and are to grow up to become like Him. As a citizen of the Kingdom of God we have many privileges. The first is that we once more become spiritually united with Christ and given back the authority and dominion that Satan had stolen from us. As a citizen of the Kingdom of God we are to manifest the character of Christ and demonstrate His power in our lives. Without these we will not be able to do His will.
The character and power of Christ result from our commitment to Him. Today’s reading from the gospel teaches us about commitment using the example of three would be disciples. The first person was prepared to follow Jesus everywhere. He offered to follow Him because he was impressed with the benefits such as having access to food and healing. Apparently he was not aware of the cost involved in following Jesus. He was not aware of the difficulties that could come up. Jesus, however, knew everything about him and pointed him to the cost involved in being His disciple. Jesus was the One who called the second person but he wanted to follow Christ at his own convenience. He probably heard Jesus say He had no place to lay His head and wanted to wait for the death of his father and receive his inheritance before following Jesus so that when the need arose he could afford to pay for a place to sleep. The third person was still attracted to what he was leaving behind and could not be of any use to Christ if he kept looking back and longing for what he had left behind. Christ demands our total commitment and says that no one having put his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of heaven. When we are saved and become citizens of the Kingdom of God, God expects us to be committed to His work and bear fruit, the fruit of the Spirit. We simply cannot remain idle or focus on anything other than Christ after being born again. We need to grow up to spiritual maturity. Just imagine a person looking for a job. When he or she is finally employed they turn up at the office for work but do what they want to do and not the work they were employed to do. Thus their work does not benefit the company in any way although they had been employed to work and bear fruit for the company. In a similar way we are saved to bear fruit that reflects the character and power of Christ. We are to bear fruit that will make an impact on the world. What impact are we making on the world? Has anyone been affected by the fruit we are bearing in our lives? Can Christ be seen in us? God expects every believer to bear the fruit of the Spirit.
Bearing the fruit of the Spirit is a process. Every one who becomes spiritually alive becomes a citizen of heaven because he or she has received the Holy Spirit. To bear the fruit of the Spirit every believer has to press on toward the goal to which Christ has called us. This is only possible by listening and obeying the Holy Spirit. This is the only way to grow spiritually and bear the characteristics of the kingdom. As citizens of heaven our names are written there and our place is secure, but while we wait here we must live as if we were there. We are living here on earth with heaven within us and so must portray the characteristics that belong to the Kingdom of God. The fruit of the Holy Spirit always comes from, by and because of the presence of the Holy Spirit dwelling inside the Christian believer. The fruit is not something you can produce by your own effort, only the Holy Spirit can produce the fruit of the Spirit.
We become citizens of the Kingdom of heaven not by natural birth but by a spiritual birth. The Kingdom of heaven is where God rules and where His rule is acknowledged. The Bible has records of various kingdoms that have ruled the world. Their kings had absolute power and authority and their word was law. They would extend not only their power and authority to other nations under their rule but other characteristics of the kingdom as well. A nation under Roman rule was like a little piece of Rome abroad. The Latin language was used; Roman law controlled local administration and taxes; and many aspects of public life went on as in Rome. When the Gold Coast was under the rule of Britain, the Governor had power and authority to rule and enforce the laws of Britain. We learnt the English language, wore suits and tie in the heat, put on wigs in our courts, ate with fork and knives and drank tea and ate biscuits in the afternoons. We played cricket and observed British law. We travelled on British passports and no one needed a visa to visit Britain. When we come under the rule of God He sends His governor, the Holy Spirit, as His representative with all power and authority to rule over us. The first thing He teaches us is the language and behaviour of the Kingdom. He teaches us what pertains in heaven so that we can behave as if we were in heaven. We are to enjoy all the privileges of heaven here on earth since we are citizens of heaven. Is this not the reason we are always praying “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. As servants of the same Lord are we allowing only what is permissible in heaven to be permissible here on earth?
Pressing on toward the goal we will encounter many obstacles that attempt to prevent us from reaching the goal and enjoying our privileges as citizens of heaven. We need to overcome the flesh and the world. Many Churches are filled with people who are unable to make any spiritual progress because they are still being controlled by the flesh and the world. Another obstacle we face as we press on toward the goal is Satan and his agents. Man is created in God’s image and so when Satan failed against God, man became the focus of his attacks. This should not be new to believers as they are engaged in a battle against rulers and authorities, Satan and his agents, right from the onset. The only way to withstand the attacks of the enemy is to depend on God’s strength and provision.
We need to be committed to the Holy Spirit and do everything He tells us to do just as Elisha was committed to obeying everything Elijah said. Before Elisha followed Elijah he cooked the oxen for a meal using the plough as firewood. He therefore had nothing to return to. He had literally burnt all bridges and nothing of his old life was there to distract him from total commitment to Elijah. This should be our attitude to Christ - an attitude of total commitment. Many Christians have become so busy with the world that they have little time for God. Our lives have become obsessed with getting wealth and being entertained. We cannot get people to a prayer meeting, but we have no problem getting large crowds together for Christian entertainment. Are we committed to Christ to the level that we can trust Him with our life? This is the type of commitment that Christ is looking for in His followers.
The Israelites were delivered from Egyptian bondage by many signs and wonders. They witnessed the humiliation of the gods of the Egyptians and experienced the presence of God in a very intimate way. They saw the parting of the Red Sea; they were lead by a cloud in the day and a pillar of fire at night. They were fed with manna from heaven and water from the rock yet they continued to look back to their days in Egypt and complained. They longed for the fish and cucumber; for the leeks, onions and garlic and forgot that they were slaves in Egypt. Instead of being filled with gratitude and thanksgiving they complained. Are we any better than the Israelites? After being born again i.e. after experiencing Christ is such a wonderful way are we complaining instead of praising and thanking Him for what He has done and pressing on towards the goal where Christ has called us. Are we bearing the characteristics of the Kingdom – the fruit of the Spirit? Christ is calling us to be His disciples. He wants us to come to Him and live His life. He has given us His Holy Spirit to change our hearts, minds, and lives. Let us lay hold of that for which Christ has called us. Amen!
