FICKLE FOLLOWERS.
We often use the term "followers of Jesus" rather the usual term "Christians", because that term means different things to different people. Jesus called His original 12 disciples to "Come, follow me and I will show you how to fish for men". NLT. I read a daily devotional today from ODB by this title where the author used the illustration of sports "fans" who follow their favorite team with a great degree of enthusiasm as long as they are on a winning streak. But let them lose a few games in a row, and see how fast they can ditch their favorite team for another. The same thing happened to Jesus on several occasions, for example in (John 12:12-13) the adoring crowd was ready to crown Him as their King, but a few days later this crowd was most likely part of the crowd that were crying out "Crucify Him!". The reason for their complete change is seen in (verses 23-26) of this same chapter, when Jesus spelled out the cost of being a faithful follower of Him.
Human nature has not changed in 2000 years since these words were recorded, and people are quick to become enthusiastic followers of Jesus one week and seemingly lose their enthusiasm the next week or month or two. I would have to say these people are definitely not "committed followers" of Jesus, and could be referred to as "Fickle Followers" in my mind. Unfortunately there seems to be more and more people like this in the "church" today than ever before in my memory. I expect the reason for this is because there is very little preaching about repentance, and separation from the world today. And what we can refer to as a "different gospel" that the Apostle Paul refers to in (2 Cor 11:1-4) is certainly being introduced by false teachers in the past number of years in many church circles. And remember this second letter of Paul to this church was written just a year or two after the first, in which he explained in (chapter 15:1-6) the gospel, or "good news" that he had preached to them. That shows us how fast the work of a false teacher can corrupt a church congregation. So it's no wonder we are given so many warnings in many places in the NT scriptures to "be aware" that in the last days we can expect to see not just a few, but "many false prophets and teachers" show up in our churches. They are undoubtedly "planted" in our midst by the enemy of out souls. But thank God He has given His Church, the "Body of Christ", the person of the Holy Spirit to provide "discernment" to point out the "false" from the "true", which is only found in Jesus, who declared in (John 14:6) "I am the truth" !!
Sincerely submitted.
Dave Jamer 31/05/13
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