What motivates you to wake up each day and live the Christian life? Is it the reward of heaven? Is it the promise of blessings in this life?
When Jesus called His first disciples, He certainly gave them a great promise. In Mark 1:16-20, Jesus meets Simon Peter and Andrew while they were casting their fishing nets into the sea, followed soon after by James and John. Jesus gives them a simple offer. He said, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men” (v. 18).
What a strange offer! In other religions, men might be offered riches, pleasures, fame, glory, large families, or moral superiority if they convert. It’s what people want to hear because it’s all about them. But, Jesus doesn’t offer any of those things. Instead, He offered them a life of serving others.
In chapter 3, Jesus called the rest of the twelve apostles and gave them the first description of their task. In verse 14, the Bible says that they would be sent out to preach. Then, in chapter 16, verses 15-16, Jesus explained exactly how far this mission would reach. “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.’”
Peter, Andrew, James, and John had very little information when Jesus called them to follow Him. They knew Jesus was the Messiah (cf. John 1:35-42) and they knew His offer. But, each of them immediately left their nets and followed Him. No promise of heaven, no promise glory, just the promise of bringing souls to Jesus. It was an offer they couldn’t refuse.
Would that be enough for you to follow Jesus? We have a lot more information today than the first apostles had. We know that the blessings of following Jesus extend from this life (2 Cor. 9:8; Jas. 1:17; Phil. 4:19) and into eternity (Eph. 1:3; John 14:2). Yet, many of us treat being a fisher of men as an inconvenience rather than a precious reward.
The apostles couldn’t wait to get out and start following Jesus. They dropped what they were doing and left with Him. Evangelism should be one of the most exciting aspects of being a Christian. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
Where does the mission to share the gospel rank on your list of reasons to follow Jesus? Each of us have been given the opportunity to be a vital part of God’s plan of salvation. Would you refuse such a reward? All of the glory, wealth, and things of this life will fade away. But, every soul that we help obey the gospel will live forever!