Going All In: What It Really Means to Follow Jesus

There's a question that haunts many of us as we move through our spiritual journey: Are we truly following Jesus, or are we just fans in the stands, cheering from a safe distance?

It's easy to confuse the two. We show up on Sundays, we know the songs, we might even have our favorite Bible verses memorized. But somewhere between knowing about Jesus and actually surrendering everything to Him lies a chasm that many of us hesitate to cross.

The Apostle Paul's Radical Perspective

The Apostle Paul didn't mince words when he wrote to the Philippians. He said that everything he once considered valuable—his accomplishments, his reputation, his credentials—he now considered garbage compared to knowing Christ. That's not religious talk; that's revolutionary thinking.

Paul wanted to know Christ so intimately that he would share in both His resurrection power and His sufferings. He was willing to lose everything to gain Jesus. That kind of commitment doesn't fit neatly into our carefully controlled lives where we've learned to keep our options open and our exit strategies ready.

The Inverted Gospel

Many of us have unknowingly embraced what could be called the "inverted gospel." Instead of following Jesus wherever He leads, we've invited Him to follow us through the life we've already planned. We want His blessing on our decisions rather than surrendering our decisions to His lordship.

If Jesus isn't Lord of all, He's not Lord at all. That's not a popular message in a culture that celebrates autonomy and self-determination, but it's the truth that sets us free.

The Problem with Lukewarm

The book of Revelation contains one of the most sobering passages in Scripture. Jesus tells the church in Laodicea: "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

Lukewarm Christianity is the enemy of authentic faith. It's the middle ground that feels safe but is actually the most dangerous place to be. God isn't looking for perfection, but He is looking for passion. He wants hearts fully committed to Him, not half-hearted followers sitting on the fence.

Zacchaeus: From Fan to Follower

The story of Zacchaeus illustrates this transformation beautifully. Here was a man who climbed a tree just to catch a glimpse of Jesus passing by. He was curious, maybe even a fan of what he'd heard about this controversial teacher.

But Jesus didn't just wave as He walked past. He called Zacchaeus by name and invited Himself to dinner. That personal encounter changed everything. Zacchaeus couldn't stay the same after meeting Jesus face to face.

The crowd grumbled. They knew Zacchaeus was a notorious sinner, a tax collector who had cheated them. But Zacchaeus's response revealed genuine transformation: he immediately promised to give half his possessions to the poor and repay four times over anyone he had cheated.

That's what real conversion looks like. It's not just a prayer or a decision card—it's a life radically reoriented around Jesus.

The Rich Young Ruler's Missed Opportunity

In contrast, consider the rich young ruler who came to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. He had kept all the commandments since his youth. By all religious standards, he was doing everything right.

But Jesus saw through the performance to the heart. He told the young man to sell everything and follow Him. The man walked away sad because he had great wealth.

Here's the tragedy: you can do nothing wrong and still do nothing right. Righteousness isn't just avoiding sin; it's actively pursuing God's purposes. The rich young ruler missed the opportunity of a lifetime because he couldn't let go of what he was holding.

Imagine lying on your deathbed, hearing those words echo in your mind: "Follow me." And knowing you chose security over surrender.

Burning the Ships

Throughout history, some military leaders employed a dramatic strategy when landing on foreign shores: they burned their ships. With no means of retreat, their troops had only one option—move forward.

A century ago, missionaries known as "one-way missionaries" did something similar. They packed their belongings in coffins and purchased one-way tickets to dangerous mission fields. They had already died to themselves, so they didn't fear death.

A.W. Milne was one such missionary. He spent 35 years among a tribe of headhunters who had killed every previous missionary. When he died, the tribe inscribed these words on his tombstone: "When he came, there was no light. When he left, there was no darkness."

That's the power of a life fully surrendered to Christ.

What Does All In Look Like?

Going all in for Christ means several things:

Being still and knowing He is God. In our frantic, distracted world, we need to cultivate an awareness of God's presence in every moment.

Hearing His voice above the chaos. Life will be chaotic. Struggles will come. But when we're close to God, we can still hear that still, small voice guiding us.

Telling more people about Jesus. We carry the message of salvation—the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. People need to know they can be born again, that whatever sin has entangled them doesn't have to define them.

Following Him daily. Jesus said, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." This is a daily decision, not a one-time event.

The Power of Complete Surrender

Here's the beautiful paradox of the gospel: when we lose our life for Christ's sake, we find it. When we die to ourselves, we truly begin to live. When we surrender everything, we gain everything that matters.

Jesus didn't die to keep us safe. He died to make us dangerous—dangerous to the kingdom of darkness, dangerous to the status quo, dangerous to the comfortable religion that demands nothing and changes nothing.

This Is Your Moment

There comes a moment when you throw caution to the wind. There comes a moment when you burn the ships. There comes a moment when you stop looking back and start looking forward.

This is that moment.

Not tomorrow. Not when life settles down. Not when you feel more qualified or ready. Now.

The question isn't whether God can use you. The question is whether you'll let Him. Will you give Him your yes, no matter what? Will you trust Him enough to surrender everything?

How great is our God? Great enough to take your broken, surrendered life and transform it into something beautiful. Great enough to use your weakness as a platform for His strength. Great enough to make your one life count for eternity.

It's all or nothing. It's now or never.

It's time to go all in.