No One Looking Back Allowed

Beads of Joy 09-29-10

No One Looking Back Allowed
©2010 James Dacey, Jr. SFO

Hello Everyone,

Nothing must stand between us and following Jesus. Sorry if you don't want to hear that, but nothing must separate us at all. Jesus never said following Him was going to be easy or without cost. Just as Jesus paid the price and carried His cross, so must we. Today we are reflecting on Luke 9:57-62 (The Would Be Followers of Jesus). This scripture is insightful and so much wisdom can be gained by the mere simplistic way this is all said. I'm no farmer but look at these words in verse 62, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." We must stay on a path that is straight and narrow. Check this out, "This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" Matthew 3:3. If a farmer isn't watching the direction he is plowing and he sways all over, that off the track effect will ripple and effect the entire farm, making it a mess. The farmer must look forward and stay the course without ever looking back. He really must stay focused.

Are you ready to follow Jesus? We must do the same in our own walk, by never allowing distractions, people, habits, whatever, to cause us to get off track. We should be very thankful to our Lord, He don't pull any punches, He just tells us like it is, upfront. Through His grace and promise, "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life." Matthew 19:29. What is our objective in this life? To live in the biggest house. No. To own the most expensive car. No. To have the most prestigious career. No. To have popular notoriety. No. To have power to rule over millions. No. To do whatever we want to do. No. What then is our objective in this life that we are now living? Answer is simple: John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." If we believe in Him, we obey Him, so then we follow Him. It all ties together.

But, Are you ready to follow Jesus? That's the real question, directed to each of us personally. The cost here is huge. But we do know the reward is eternal, so it is well worth paying that price now in this life. Right? Oh come on, don't tell me you got wet feet now. Well, dry them off, don't look back and let's go, our Lord is waiting for us. LOL. All joking aside, this "following" Jesus thing if we are seriously serious about it, it will indeed cost us everything to get there. You do realize that, don't you? Your desire can't be to return to the home of your body, but rather move forward following Jesus to the eternal home He has prepared for us in Heaven. If we are indeed followers of Him, He who is from Heaven (Jesus, the Son of God). Then we are not attached to this world by no means. So I ask again, Are you ready to follow Jesus?

Is there anything at all in this life that can possibly come close to giving us a mere fraction or slice of what Jesus is offering to us? The answer is simply, No. Just ask yourself these very straight forward questions right from scripture, "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:26. "Gains the whole world", so even if we gain it all, we gain nothing. And if we forfeit our soul, we then forfeit eternity. Then our life no longer has a purpose. Yes our lives have purpose, I didn't mean it the way it could have been interpreted. Yes, getting married, having children, raising them, having some sort of a career to support them; that is all well and good, but not what is required to make it to Heaven. There is no point in this life, if it ends at the grave. So to surrender from it, give it all up, and follow Jesus to eternity; that's a far better offer. I am not a boring person, by no stretch of what that is saying. I don't follow sports, I don't play none either. I don't have any hobbies, except making rosary beads. I don't hang out with any friends at a bar. I don't go hunting or fishing. I spend 24/7/365 consumed in Jesus. Where are your treasures? I have no regrets, you can have the same deep love I have, just do it. This is my motto, my alligence to my Lord, for the past 25+ years I have been saying this: "YOU CAN HAVE ALL THIS WORLD HAS TO OFFER, ITS WEALTH, ITS LUSTS, ITS THINGS; ALL I WANT AND DESIRE IS JESUS." Jim Dacey Jr SFO

Give Jesus all you got while praying, "Jesus, I trust in You."


Your brother in Christ Jesus & His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr SFO

Today we pray the Glorious Mysteries
1. The Resurrection
2. The Ascension
3. The Descent of The Holy Spirit
4. The Assumption
5. The Coronation