A few years ago, I was at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California. In one part of the building is a hall that has 4 entrances leading into different sections of the aquarium. The hall is in the shape of a small circle, and above the entrances is a circular fish tank that goes all the way around the room. In that fish tank, there are thousands of sardines. These little fish all swim round and round the fish tank. It’s like a sardine highway, with all of the fish just going in a huge circle around the top of the hallway. Well, as I stood in there watching these fish swim, I noticed one little sardine trying to go the opposite direction of ALL of the other fish. It kept having to move and it kept being bumped by other fish going the opposite direction, but it was determined it was going the OTHER way! And as long as I stood there watching, it just kept slowly but purposefully going against the flow and was not following all of the other sardines, but it didn’t stop, it kept going that way no matter how difficult it was.
That little sardine is a good picture of how we are to live as Christians. WAY too many people who claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ only go along with the crowd. If everyone else is willing to do something or live a certain way, then they will also, but if following Jesus means to do something difficult, like live CONTRARY to the rest of the crowd, they’re not about to do that!
While Jesus was here in his earthly ministry, He DEFINITELY lived opposite of what the religious leaders of His day did. He had people trying to kill Him. He was mocked and ridiculed. He was hated. And even His own family didn’t believe in Him. But, He didn’t allow that to stop Him from doing what was right!
It’s NOT an easy road – following Jesus Christ. And He NEVER promised that it would be easy. In fact, He said it would be IMPOSSIBLE and DIFFICULT. That’s why we MUST COMPLETELY DIE to our SELFISH desires, to our PRIDE, and to the WAYS of this world. WE MUST DIE and ALLOW JESUS CHRIST to live through us!
It’s not an easy road we are traveling to Heaven,
For many are the thorns on the way;
It’s not an easy road but the SAVIOR is with us,
HIS presence gives us joy every day.
It’s not an easy road there are trials and troubles,
And many are the dangers we meet;
But JESUS guards and keeps us so that nothing can harms us,
And smooths the path for our feet.
No, no it’s not an easy road,
no, no It’s not an easy road ;
But JESUS walks before me and brightens the journey,
and lightens every heavy load.
It TRULY COSTS to follow Him! “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”
(Luke 14:27)
If you’re looking for the EASY road to following Jesus – Forget it…It DOESN’T EXIST. However, the AWESOME thing is that when we’re following Jesus, we don’t have to worry about ANYTHING! Because He is with us!
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me;” (Psalm 23:4)