From Matthew 8:18-22 / Walking in Truth – Just why it is Jesus decided to go to the other side of the Lake upon seeing the crowds isn’t clear. Perhaps He was already perceiving a hint of their wanting to promote and follow Him simply as a miracle worker or leader. When in John 6 He saw that some wanted to take Him and make Him king, He did a similar thing by immediately withdrawing. He was clear on His mission even if those around Him were not. And He would not be used for purposes other than why He came – to fulfill the Father’s redemptive plan culminating in the Cross. He would not allow Himself to be deterred. He knew and stuck to the truth about Himself and His mission.

This is a lesson that we as His redeemed need to take in well.

Do we have a Biblically informed sense of who we are and why we are here? Do we know HIs purpose for us? The mission He has assigned to us? Are we living as light and salt in the midst of this crooked generation? Are we about the business of making His glories known to the World, by both our lips and our lives? How do we contribute to the mission of the Church at large in making disciples of men in all the nations?

Not everyone preaches. Not everyone teaches. Not everyone is a gifted evangelist. But all can study to know and live in the truth. And all can find a place of service in the Church so that those with their varying gifts are supported and enabled. Each of us has a sphere of influence we can touch. We can give. We can pray. We can comfort. We can encourage. We can bless according to our resources and opportunities. We can weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. We can take the mundane duties of life and consciously enter into them so as to offer them up as service to our King with integrity, honesty, industry and humility. We can walk in truth.

Then we see how Matthew includes two short vignettes to follow in which Jesus calls to men to face and live in the truth.

When the Scribe comes to Him, He wants the man to know just what following Jesus is NOT. Following Christ is not to be seen or sold as the pathway to gain earthly advantages. And woe to us when we present or believe the Gospel that way. We are not walking in truth, but in a wretched illusion.

In 1 Tim. 6, Paul inveighs heavily against those who imagine “that godliness is a means of gain.” Godliness with contentment IS great gain, but godliness is not a way to gain earthly advantages. And those who promote the Gospel in such a way are “people who

are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth.”

They are not walking in the truth.

Strong words indeed. And Jesus disabused this Scribe of that foolishness right out of the gate.

Christ is not the means to earthly advantages.

And lastly, we see the truth that the call to follow Christ is urgent. This is the truth.

When we have come to know something of Him and heard His call, we must act and make our decision to separate from the mere ordinariness of life to be His – now. Not down the road. Not when it is more convenient. Not when those who might disapprove are gone out of the way. Not when we have more time or better circumstances. Now.

Living in the truth requires that we reckon with the reality of Christ’s demands right now, right this hour. For not one more minute is promised to any of us. And eternity hangs in the balance.

Maybe you are one who has hesitated today. You’ve said in your hear that you’ll get “serious” about spiritual things at some point down the road. But this man was faced with the reality right before His eyes – Jesus was about to get into a boat and leave. And either he went with Him now, or he might never.

And so if that is you today, I would plead with you, make the decision. Do not hesitate. Now is the day of grace. Who knows what might befall you or the world in the next 30 minutes let alone the next 30 years. Come to Jesus now. For the truth is, you are condemned in your sins right now, and only He can redeem you from your lost condition.

Come now.