Follow Me
Who are you following?
Fifteen years ago the answer to this question would be drastically different than what it is today. (Why am I all of a sudden feeling really old?) Who you are following and having your own following are commonplace among Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. Who you follow can tell a lot about your personality and interests. Your targeted ads can be so spot on you feel like they are reading your thoughts at times. Being an influencer is an actual job that can pay for bills and even give you celebrity status with the right following. More recently, social media has become your voice showing what you stand for. I have watched (or read, rather) influencers get torn apart, make apologies, and change their businesses all based on what their followers want them to believe and stand for. I’ve seen them get shamed for not openly supporting all the current agendas that the world declares should be followed.
What if we morphed a little of our time into Biblical times?
What do you think people thought of @noaharkbuilder when he warned them of the coming flood? Do you think the comments on his ark progress pictures were responses of “way to go!” and “you’re so talented!”? I doubt it! I am sure there was a lot of unfollowing happening and people declaring “How dare you judge me for what I believe! Who are you to say that God is going to destroy me!” Despite what other people thought, God was pleased with Noah. He remained with Noah among the chaos— to close the door to the ark, during the year-long float, and when he made his covenant with Noah under a rainbow. (Genesis 6-8)
“By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.” Hebrews 11:7
How about @ruthgatherssheaves? Ruth was widowed and left with her also widowed mother-in-law. During a time when she and Naomi had no means to provide for their very basic needs, Ruth decided to remain with her. It would have been much easier to go back to her homeland, her previous gods, and an easier life, but she chose to follow the way of the true God and remain with Naomi to help care for her. Her following was sure to have been encouraging her in the opposite direction. “Now is the time for some me time, Ruth. Take time for yourself. This isn’t the time to be worrying and caring for others.”
“But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried.”’ Ruth 1:16-17
What about @saulnowpaul? His following was sure to be in an uproar as he took a full 180 turn from persecuting the Christians to becoming persecuted himself!
“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
It seems as if it is getting more and more difficult to say and do the right things. Sometimes I have to take a step back and remember what I truly do believe because of so much that is on social media, on the news, and in the world around us. You can get tricked into believing something is good and right, when in fact it is just another way of the world. But this isn’t new. Jesus himself warned the disciples of just this before he sent them out to proclaim the news about him. “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witness to them and to the Gentiles. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:16-18, 22)
There are countless more examples in the Bible of people believing and doing the right thing when it was difficult and uncomfortable or even nearly impossible: Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, Job, Mary and Joseph, John, the disciples, and many more! Through these examples we can find encouragement to continue our walk with Christ when it’s not what the world would do. When we face persecution for what we believe, we can find comfort in the stories of the Bible and learn from their experiences.
When @therealChristJesus says to “Come, follow me” (Matthew 4:19), we can do so with confidence! “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)