I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus,
No turning back,
No turning back!
Though no one join me, still I will follow,
Though no one join me, still I will follow,
Though no one join me, still I will follow,
No turning back,
No turning back!
The world behind me, the cross before me,
The world behind me, the cross before me,
The world behind me, the cross before me,
No turning back!
No turning back
I remember first hearing this hymn during an Adventist Youth program at my church in San Antonio, Texas. If you don’t know by now what Adventist Youth aka AY is, it is a short church service usually done an hour before sunset on Saturday, which includes song service; activities; prayer; and devotions. Though the name says ‘youth’, the program is for all ages because it is an opportunity to grow spiritually and to fellowship with your church family.
The decision to follow Jesus is an everyday thing for you and me because there has been and always will be many bumps and detours while we travel on the path to follow Him.
I think it’s fitting that this song is located a youth song book. Growing up in the church is not an easy journey. Each generation faces just as many obstacles and temptations as any adult. Tribulations that come in the form of drugs; sex; school; social media; dating; peer pressure; helplessness, aimlessness, depression; racism, suicide; stress; pregnancy; bullying; cyber bullying; betrayal; child abuse; split families; fear of not knowing if you will come back from school alive; etc. Often, a young person will wonder who to turn to when friends and even the family can’t be relied on.
As mentioned in Matthew 10:22 and Luke 6:22, there are those who will curse you or look at you strangely for this path you choose. People have either heard or not heard of my denomination. Some legit think I’m in a cult. In college I’ve had people critique my writing because I sounded too churchy in their opinion, and I wasn’t even preaching towards them. Family have even questioned the path I have chosen to embark one. I’m pretty sure there are certain people who assume that I dislike them just because I identify as a Christian and because they choose a different path. Everyone must choose their own path, so I’m not judging. Sometimes I think of the reasons why I don’t have a lot of viewers or as many followers on my blog as others is because I talk a lot about Christ on here. That can be quite discouraging, because as much as I shouldn’t care about who likes what I have to say, I kinda do care. It sometimes makes me question if I’m a decent enough writer. Maybe that’s just the devil putting doubt in me. At the end of the day, I still love what I’m doing.
As we are going after Christ, worldly pleasures, even some we used to take part in will seem less appealing. Maybe not all at once, but each time you’re doing something Christlike such as being there for a person in distress; opening up your Bible; praying for someone who needs it; or sharing your personal testimony, such things will remind you of the one whom you are following and aspiring to be more like.
I have decided to follow Jesus and there is no turning back.
DavidSpeaks 