Since the Christian life is nothing less than the life of Christ, it is by definition a progressive life, i.e., it is not static or lethargic. It is in perpetual motion, which means, the Christian that doesn’t advance is not experiencing the Christian life.
A twofold consideration
There are two scriptures in the gospel of John that manifest this principle. The first one reads:
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Here the verb ‘follows’ has a twofold implication. First, it tells us that the Light is not static. It moves, and moves forward. And then it tells us that the Light can be followed, which implies a progression in the one following. Therefore the Christian that gets entangled in the things of this world or simply turns cold and languid is on the brink of darkness. It is so because the light will keep moving regardless of our stationary condition. That is precisely the point Jesus is making in John 12:35:
A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; …”
Jesus’ words imply that the one who doesn’t follow the light will eventually be overtaken by darkness. Consequently, when the Scripture exhorts us to walk in the light it entails a following, and the following has to be unconditional. It must spring from a heart that utterly trusts the One who leads, whose motion is wise and directional (God doesn’t turn in circles, see my post on this subject).
The conditions of discipleship
Actually Jesus refers to this unconditionality when he says: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matt. 16:24) These words convey the idea that the man who comes to terms with the Light unconditionally will find himself capable of tracking with it, and the result will be, without fail, a progressive ascent. Yes! The pilgrim will experience hardship but also elation. He will cross new frontiers and experience God’s presence in numerous ways. No boredom will blossom in his path and new realities will engender an increase in the realm of knowledge.
Now this upward motion will always be observable, for it involves the whole man. It is not merely spiritual or intellectual. Paul’s exhortation to Timothy makes it clear:
Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.” (1 Timothy 4:15)
The progress of a Christian—as well as his possible regress—is invariably perceptible. It is seen in the way he acts, reacts, speaks, works, and so on. But the apostle goes a step forward; he asserts that there must be a giving of ourselves first. In fact, he seems to suggest that a partial giving is not sufficient to propel us forward there where the footprints of the Master lead. “Give yourself entirely”, he told Timothy. So it appears that the pilgrim can only progress through a submissive following resulting from love & trust.
Following from far
We read in Matthew’s Gospel the following words:
And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.” (Matt. 26:57-58)
Here it could be debated that Peter followed Jesus afar off because the soldiers would not have permitted him to follow Him from close. But the way the narrative develops seems to knock down this possibility:
Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” 71 And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!” 73 And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” 74 Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” (Matt. 26:69-74)
Happily, the story doesn’t end there. Shortly after, Peter began to follow Jesus from close, by this I mean, he became bold, took position, and started to identify himself with Jesus even at the risk of his life. This sort of following will always trigger new revelations; for it is in the light that truth can be apprehended. The apostle Paul expresses it in these words:
“But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.” (Ephesians 5:13)
Even a child can understand this principle, because what is not manifested cannot be seen, and what is not seen cannot be really known (see my posts entitled “Come and see”).
What does these verses teach us?
I quoted these scriptures because they demonstrate perspicuously that our Christian walk cannot exceed the degree of our commitment to Christ. If we are afraid to associate ourselves with Jesus in the whole spectrum of life we will surely be reluctant to follow Him from close. And when a person entertains this compromising disposition for too long, darkness will surely overtake him. That person can be a churchgoer, a preacher, a missionary or maybe an evangelist, but who the person is doesn’t change a thing, for there is no respect of persons with God (Rom. 2:11).
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