Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (John 12:25-26)

Every single person follows someone or something, if not others, then their own plans, feelings, desires... Everyone has aims. Everyone has a kind of life path.

Several religions offer unique paths. Moreover, the number of different churches and groups called Christians is only increasing these days. But do all paths lead to the same destination? Jesus spoke of only one narrow path that leads to life, for he said:

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7:13-14)

Jesus invites us to a life abundant with joy with him and with each other (John 15:11, 17:13), so that no one lacks anything. He takes care of us and cares about us. He is the one who fulfills all our needs, who satisfies the weary soul. He calls the weary to him so that they no longer carry their burdens alone. Jesus said:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

The choice lies with us. God cannot be reached by anyone in any way. This way is Jesus himself, the truth and the life:

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

Only through Jesus can we have eternal life (Acts 4:12) and walk in the light of life. John writes:

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. (John 1:9)

Facing ourselves may not be easy, but clarity is beneficial. With him our souls find rest, because with him we can rest without sin. Whatever sin we are burdened with, if we honestly admit it, he can have mercy on us. Jesus points out our sins because he wants to cleanse us from all sin (1 John 1:5-2:2). Even if this does not seem pleasant for the moment (Hebrews 12:7-11), later the light of God will make our hearts rejoice and fill our lives.

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.” (John 12:35)

God can only protect us from the power of darkness if we trust Jesus completely. Trusting in him, we can be victorious, but only as he overcame the world. If we walk with Jesus, then we must also be ready to undertake our fate with him every day in being despised and abandoned by the world, in humiliation, in trials, in misery, in persecution, in suffering...

And Jesus said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” (Luke 9:23-25)

We cannot love the world if we want to walk with Jesus (1 John 2:15-17). A disciple of Jesus can only be someone who is ready to give up everything for him. In order for God's love to live us, we must give our all (Luke 14:26-27). Day by day, we must give up everything that prevents us from loving God more and more deeply. God sanctifies us through his word, but only if we remain faithful to the Lord and persevere in his will until the end... Because Jesus said:

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (John 15:1-8)

It is God's will that we be sanctified and cleansed from every defilement of body and spirit (2 Corinthians 7:1), because this is the only way we can see him face to face (1 John 3:2-3). Whoever disregards this and does not bear this fruit (Romans 6:22) is no longer considered a disciple of Jesus, but has strayed after Satan (1 Timothy 5:15), because that is how the deceitfulness of sin hardens his heart (Hebrews 3:12-13), and is so far removed from the sanctifying God (John 17:17-19) that he is departed from the faith (1 Timothy 4:1) and Christ, and falls away from grace (Galatians 5:4). Paul writes:

For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. (1 Thessalonians 4:7-8)

As Christians, we are to love one another as Jesus loved his disciples. Jesus gave us this command (John 13:34-35, 15:12-17; Romans 13:8; 1 Peter 1:22-23). We can only love God if we also love our brothers. John writes:

If anyone says, “I love God”, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. (1 John 4:20-5:1)

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. (1 John 3:14-16)

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:11-12)

God dwells in us when we live for each other as brothers. Just as Jesus came to serve and give his life (Mark 10:45), so must we (1 John 3:16). Only if we dedicate our whole lives to him and our brothers, just as Jesus laid down his life for his disciples (John 17:19), then we can say with confidence that we are disciples of Jesus. Paul writes:

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

Humbly following the path of love, we too must faithfully serve him and each other, as Jesus served (John 13:13-17). God gives great and deep inner joy to the daily sharing of life and to living for each other at all times. None of us are perfect. Jesus warns his disciples that no one should think of himself as superior to others, because they are all brothers:

But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23:8-12)

Those who follow Jesus ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. This is the standard for all Christians, no more and no less: selfless love, integrity before God, complete humility, unconditional trust in God, perfect obedience... John writes:

whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (1 John 2:6)

God gives us the strength to obey the Lord unconditionally only if we do not look back:

As they were going along the road, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:57-62)

So don't look back! The real goal awaits you to be like our Master who said:

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. (...) Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great. (Luke 6:40.46-49)

As Christians, we must follow Jesus steadfastly and faithfully in everything, and we must not only hear but also keep his word, because he said:

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” (John 8:31-32)

However, the majority do not really want to change their lives even today, and the reality is that few understand and act on it (Matthew 7:13-14, 22:14; Luke 12:32, 13:22-24, 18:8), what Jesus calls for!

WE ALSO CALL: LET'S FOLLOW JESUS!