"Following Christ for the Wrong Reasons" Part Two (John 12:12-17)

Our text is John 12:12-17. In part one, we mentioned that your faith will be undermined and perhaps destroyed if you follow Christ because of what YOU THINK He can give you! Let's clarify this statement. If you're following Christ because of what you think He can provide you in terms of financial prosperity, good health, and a host of other temporal benefits, your faith will be shaken and you'll be very disappointed! It will be as if someone has pulled out the "spiritual" rug from beneath you! What if a serious and debilitating sickness comes upon you? What if you suffer the loss of a job or a severe financial loss? What if your spouse never comes to the Lord for salvation? What if your marriage is not the storybook, "happily ever after" romance that you thought Jesus would give you? What if your children don't follow Jesus? Scripture is very clear that God can and does give dramatic victories to those who live by faith in Him. Consider the passage in Hebrews 11:29-35 which emphasizes the phrase "By faith!" We read, "By faith they passed through the Red Sea," "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down," "By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish," "Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, etc." All of these people lived by faith and all show that the Lord can and did provide temporally for them! But smack dab in the middle of telling about these dramatic acts of the Lord, we're told that "others were tortured," "others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment." "They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated" (Hebrews 11:35-37). Please understand that these people also lived by faith in the Lord! What's the point? Some, by faith experienced dramatic victories, while others, by faith experienced great suffering, affliction, and even martyrdom! The point is they ALL courageously and uncompromisingly followed the Lord, regardless of the earthly outcome! They certainly did not follow the Lord for the wrong reasons for both groups lived by faith in the Lord! Obviously, they were not following the Lord for any reason other than for who He's revealed in Scripture! They like us are to follow because "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:31). Your move. Be encouraged!