The Lord Is Not After Joiners

In Luke 9:57-62 are three fellows. As you remember, the first one said, "I will follow thee whithersever thou goest" (v57), and Jesus said, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath no where to lay his head" (v58). The second said, "Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father" (v59). Jesus said, "Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God" (v60). The third said, "Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell which are at home at my house" (v62). If you're going with me, let's go; if you're going to stay here, stay here; but the kingdom of God is no place for a man with his face pointed one way and his feet the other. God is not taking people to heaven backward. If you're going with me, let's get going, all in one direction.

One prospect, the rich young ruler, stood head and shoulders above the rest. He had manners, for he came very politely. He had morals. He kept the commandments. He had money. If he tried to join the average church today, they'd say, "Take him quick. Make him treasurer and don't ask him any questions." My Lord said, "Sell out." He didn't give him a massage; He gave him a shock treatment. "Sell out" and that's just what he wouldn't do. He was a good catch, but the Lord didn't catch him.

Americans are professional joiners. They'd die if they couldn't join something. Give them a red button and a certificate and they'll join anything on the face of the earth. The Lord wasn't after joiners. He was after disciples.

(Vance Havner, sermon: Jesus Is Lord; "When God Breaks Through", sermons on revival edited and compiled by Dennis J. Hester; pp 139-140)