Have You Left Everything?

Luke 5:11

“And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.”

There was a salesman who worked for an oil and gas service company. He would call on us and come by and take us out for lunch nearly every month. We gave him lots of jobs and became friends over the years. One year, he told us he was going to retire, and he did. My salesman friend, Rick, was nowhere to be found after his retirement date. To this day, no one has spoken to him at all. It’s like he just up and left, never to come back.

I wish I could have been there when Peter and Andrew, along with James and John, brought in that huge catch of fish. The Bible says that it was a boat-busting load of fish, the kind of catch you would hear about all over the place. I can picture Peter and the gang reliving the catch many nights around the fire. The only thing is, after that catch, they left everything for good. Not just a week’s vacation, but gone, never to come back. Kind of like my salesman buddy Rick.

That must have been crazy to watch. What would be more amazing is the story around the campfires about Peter and the gang just leaving everything after that big catch. Times are different in today’s world. Not everyone can just up and leave their jobs and families, but some do and go on to be great missionaries. Following Christ is an everything kind of ride. You don’t get on the Christ rollercoaster holding onto all your baggage. In order to ride the ride, you must lay it all down before you get strapped in. Yes, just you and Jesus on the ride of your life.

Have you left everything? What are you still holding onto? Is all that baggage you’re carrying going to help you once you get on the rollercoaster? The short answer is no. Just like Peter and the gang left everything, we have to leave everything, leave the old ways, leave old sins, leave the old lifestyle, leave the old buddies. Leave it all and follow Christ.

I often wonder if Peter had second thoughts. Do you have second thoughts? Peter left everything right there on the shore, next to the largest catch of fish he had ever seen, and turned to follow Jesus. We all have a hard time understanding how life plays out, the disciples did too, but their faith in Christ was worth leaving everything. What are you still holding onto that you should have left at the shoreline? Have you really left everything?

Prayer: Father, help us to leave everything and follow You. I pray that we no longer hold on to anything in this world. Your Word says to seek first the Kingdom of God, and You will provide all things (Matthew 6:33). I pray that we seek Your Kingdom and righteousness before we ever think to put anything ahead of You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.