Leaving Father In The Boat
Jarrod M. Jacobs
In our last study, we studied about Christ calling Peter, Andrew, James, and John to be fishers of men. One other event connected with this calling is in Mark 1:20 and Matt. 4:22. Mark points out that Peter and Andrew “forsook their nets,” and when James and John left, they left their “father in the boat.” Matthew’s account varies slightly, saying they left “their ship and their father.” In these four men’s cases, they had to leave their family (father) and their business (ship and nets) to follow the Lord and be “fishers of men.” Jesus appreciated this and didn’t take such sacrifices for granted (Mk. 10:29-30).
Matthew 8:19-22 and Luke 9:59-62 teach a similar truth when three people approach the Lord about following Him, and each person is told essentially to choose Him over anyone and anything else. Yes, following Christ never promised the disciples a life of ease or freedom from sacrifice when He called for them. I think Mark 1:18-20 states this lesson quite succinctly. The Lord requires sacrifice (Rom. 12:1-2)! He never promised a life of ease on earth. He promised life eternal (Matt. 25:46) and rest one day (Heb. 4:9) if we’ve been faithful!
Many have sacrificed for the Lord through the years. I think of Elijah, Elisha, Job, and many others in the Old Testament. Some have lost their lives in order to remain faithful to God. This is recorded for us in Scripture. Even our “secular” history records the lives of those who risked life and limb so that the gospel might spread far and wide. While many lost their lives, still others lost their livelihoods, and some lost families in order to live according to God’s will. I can think of many preachers of the gospel whose sacrifices have allowed me to preach where I am today, and I am thankful.
The older I get, the more I understand that anything worth having will cost something. I’ve also seen (with a few exceptions) that we don’t usually appreciate the things given to us without condition. Usually, the things for which we haven’t struggled and earned are the first things we give away or sell. If that item breaks or is stolen, there is little emotional attachment like there is to the thing we obtain by sacrifice. I know there are exceptions to this, for example, an inheritance or something similar, but what I’m saying is usually true. Watch people and see if I’m not right!
I know it sounds trite to say, “There is no free lunch,” but that is a true statement. For you to get something “free” means someone else bought it. That includes the “free gift” of our salvation (Rom. 5:15-16, 6:23)! Someone else paid a price that we might have the opportunity to be saved (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8; Matt. 20:28, 26:28; Heb. 5:8-9; etc.). Don’t get me wrong, there are conditions attached to this “free gift,” and rightfully so! We cannot enjoy the blessings of God’s gift unless we believe in Christ (Jn. 8:24), repent of our sins (Lk. 13:3), confess Christ as God’s Son (Rom. 10:10), and be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). We must have some “skin in the game,” and we do when we make that commitment to the Lord and follow Him for the rest of our days (I Cor. 15:58; Rev. 2:10b; etc.). We must put the Lord first (Matt. 6:33), not be “conformed” but “transformed” (Rom. 12:2), and grow closer to the Lord daily (II Pet. 3:18).
Four apostles in this text left family and business to follow Christ and serve Him for the rest of their days (Mk. 1:18-20). What have we left? Does the gospel mean anything to you? Does the cross mean anything? Have we been fooled into thinking that being a Christian requires little more than warming a padded pew and devoting my time for an hour or so on Sunday? Have we left anything behind willingly? If not, why not? Those who think that being a Christian is nothing or that there isn’t true sacrifice involved in being a Christian have never read the Book! The gospel demands much of us. Ask four fishermen what it cost them! However, the reward will be worth it (Rom. 8:18).
Are you ready to leave this world behind to gain Heaven?