There are two fundamental questions that are being raised under this title. Two fundamental questions that the Lord is going to be supplying answers to in our hearts as we read along. The first one is:  Is following Christ a waste of time or not? I know there are people in the world, Christians, disciples that at some point in their walk with Christ, they sit down to ask themselves this particular question, why am I even following Christ? Is following Christ, you know, is it worth it? So, want to look at that question: Is following Christ a waste of time or not? And then the second question is: What do we stand to gain by following Christ? So, I want to start by examining the last question: what do I stand to gain if I follow Christ? And then we will go back to answering the very first question.

Let's open our Bibles to Mark 10:23-31. The Bible says:

“Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” ²⁴ And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!”

You see, anytime I read this particular place, I usually wonder why Jesus had to call His disciples children. Now, how many of us know that the disciples of Jesus as at this time, they were not children. In fact, as a matter of fact, many of them were even older than Jesus Christ, and the Bible says, Jesus looked at them and say, “children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God.”

At some point I felt Jesus called His disciples children and they were never offended by it. Because this was not the very first place and this was not the last place that Jesus ever refers to them as children. So, which means Jesus called them children over and over again. For example, if you read the book of John chapter 21:5, Jesus asked them, he says, “Children, do you have any food?” Now, the first one was in mark and at John, He still refer to them as children. So, how come is it that Jesus called His disciples children? What was the intent of His heart? Because my idea of calling people who are adult, children, is sometimes derogatory. When you look at a full grown up, a full-grown man or woman, and you tell them sometimes why are you even behaving like a child? It is not a compliment; it is a subtle jab of insults.

Or somebody looks at a group of adults, and then says “you all are behaving as children.” You know, there was this story that came to my heart while I was trying to meditate on that Scripture. In 2006 when I got admission, I got admission very late, I got admission at the age of 21. And when I got to the university, I discovered that there were other people who were older than me, that also got admission, some were even 25 or 27. And so, there is this particular lecturer who was supposed to take us a particular course at 100L. So, anytime he comes to the class, it was a faculty course, you can as well you know, assume the number of students in the class. Anytime he comes to class, he will say “hello children.” Many of us then would feel like, “what is really going on with this man? If you are looking for children to teach, can you go back to primary school? Or you go back to secondary school?”

How can you be referring to university undergraduate as children? There were people who were even married in the class. And the most painful part of it is that if you or we refuse to respond, the man will take offense, it is either he walks away from class or you pacify him to stay. So, he's always looking for a response. When he says “hello children”, we would also respond “hello daddy.” But there were a group of us in the class that felt, you know, kind of spited, like, oh, boy, come on. There were people who had HND (Higher national Diploma) before they, you know, come back to school their BSc degrees.

So, the idea is that when you call full grown men, children, it doesn't always go down well with them. But in this place, the Bible showed us that Jesus called His disciples children. He called them another time children. Now the idea I got from that very instance, is very simple. You see, most of the times, it is very easy to paint the future to a child than to paint a future to an adult. Because if you look at those two occasions where Jesus referred to his disciples as children, if you read the subsequent verses that followed, Jesus was always pointing to a future. Do you understand what I'm trying to say? You can call a child and begin to describe how glorious the future of Nigeria will look like. The child will easily accept that glorious future from you. But how easy can it be for you to call a full-grown adult and begin to paint the future of Nigeria to sort an adult? You will discover that there will be some form of resistance from them.

God and ask, for example, some of the presidential candidates right now, how easy they have been finding it to convince Nigerians that they should vote for them that the future will be brighter than today. You will see people always trying to ask them question afterwards, like, okay, if you think that this is what will happen, what about this and this as well? Let Peter Obi for example, come and tell you that when I become the president, $1 = N1. You will bring out all the economic indices to want to counter that narrative. But when you call a child or when you call a group of children and you begin to tell them that see, “in your time, this is how Nigeria will look like”, they will easily accept it from you because they are children, you can easily paint a future to a child than it will be to paint the same future to an adult. Because they will begin to supply you all manner of factors that will make that future almost impossible.

Now, if you look at subsequent verses, anytime Jesus called His disciples children (He didn't call them children in all the places) but anytime he referred to them as children, it was about what will take place, the future that he was taking them to, and then He will reveal it to them. Let us go back to that Mark again so that you will understand what's in all I'm trying to show us. Let's go to verse 25 and look at what happened afterwards.

²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁶ And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” ²⁷ But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” ²⁸ Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”

 

Now don't forget, he has called them children earlier on. And I told you that anytime Jesus referred to them as children, there is always the story about the future that He will tell them. Now Peter said, Okay, we have left everything and followed you, what shall be our reward?

 ²⁹ So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, ³⁰ who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Did we see that? So, Jesus just showed them a picture of the future. Now for the disciples to be able to embrace the future, they had to receive it as a child. Now, look at John chapter 21, when Jesus called them children, have you any food, what was the conversation that ensued afterwards? Jesus was asking Peter: Do you love me more than this? In other words, Jesus was simply telling him, these things that you are doing is actually not the future. The future is in soul winning, the future is in discipleship making, not in fishing fish. Do we understand? So, Jesus doesn't just call them children, because he was trying to spite them! No, he simply called them children because it takes a child to receive the future. Children don't struggle to receive the future that you present to them, they simply accept it, hook, line and sinker.

So, Jesus said, everyone who has left all these things, will regain them. Now, anytime you read this particular verse 25 to 31, it shows us something, you know, in economics, they teach us something that is called alternative forgone. In economics, when you make a choice, it simply means that there are other choices that you have to let go in order for that choice that you have made to remain. They call it alternative forgone. In other words, when you make a choice, you have to let go of the other. But in discipleship, there is alternative forgone and alternative to regain. Normally if you choose Christ, you're supposed to let go of every other thing and say “I have followed Christ.”

But Jesus was simply showing them that see if you choose me, instead of you to have an alternative forgone, you will have alternative regain. Just pardon my phrase, I believe you are getting it. In other words, there is nothing that you let go by choosing Christ, that does not come to you. That was exactly what Jesus was showing them. It says “if you let go of father or mother and all of those things”, he says you will have them back. In economics, you may not have them back, you have to stay with your choice. But Jesus was simply saying that if you temporarily let go of these things, and you choose me, in your future in Him, these things you will have them, you will have them in this life and even at eternity, you will still have them. Is that what it says? It says in verse 29-30:

So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, ³⁰ who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life

This passage is showing us that whatever you let go for the sake of Christ in this life, Jesus said you ill have it a hundredfold. If you let go of, for example, fame, you know, some people don't want to follow Christ because they think they have a fame they are protecting, if you let go of that fame, Jesus said you will have it back. If you let go of money for the sake of Christ, or the Gospel, Jesus said, you will have the same even in a hundredfold. I don't know what kind of mathematics is that or what kind of multiplier effect is that? You let go of something or you receive it hundredfold, not just tenfold. Jesus won’t give you 10% of what you have let go, He gives you 100%. He says if you let go of father and mother, you will have same. If you let go of lands, you will have same in return. Whatever you let go for the sake of Christ, Jesus said, you are going to have it back.

So, in Christ Jesus, in discipleship, there is no alternative foregone. There is only alternative forgone to regain. Did we see that? You don't let go, or there is nothing that you sow to Christ that you don't reap. If the principle of seed time and harvest was instituted by God, then how do you think it doesn't take place in discipleship? It takes place. whatever choice you make, in order for you to follow Christ, no matter how painful it is, you are going to have it back. So, this is what it means. So, when Jesus called them children, He called them children so that he can show them their future in discipleship. How easy is it for you to convince an adult to leave his life behind and then follow you? And then you begin to show him a future? Do you understand what I'm trying to say? But Jesus called them children so that their understanding can receive the future.

There is no future you can give yourself now that can be better than the future that you have in Christ. Think about it. There is no amount of money that you can let go for the sake of Christ that is better than what Christ has reserved for you. Eternity cannot even measure what Christ has reserved for you. When we talk about inheritances in Christ Jesus, what exactly do we think we are talking about? Of course, it involves some of these physical things that we crave, but it is beyond that. Eternal life is bigger than anything you can ever think of in this life. The Bible says whatever you see in this realm, they are temporary. Whatever, anything whatsoever, you see in this realm, it says they are here temporarily. Whatever it is that you cannot see is what is permanent.

So, Jesus said when you let go of all these things that we attach ourselves to, when you let go, then he says you will regain them. There is nothing that you hide in Christ that is lost. Did we see that? Let's look at Matthew chapter 19:28. There was a way Matthew painted that future that Mark did not capture. Look at the accounts of Matthew on the same subject matter. The Bible says: “So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Did we see that? This is also your future in Christ. Mark showed us that all those material things you think you've let go, he says you will have them. Matthew showed us much bigger than that. It says there are thrones, twelve thrones waiting for you at regeneration. In other words, you are going to be a judge with Christ at regeneration. By what? By following Him. There is a way Luke painted it that Matthew and Mark didn’t capture. In Luke 22:28-29, the Bible says: “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. ²⁹ And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me…”

What did you do that make you deserve this? He says: “You continued with me.” You see, discipleship is not only on earth here. Discipleship is earthly relevant, and eternally more than relevant. Did we see that? Many times, we have said it over and over again, that if you are a true follower of Christ, the reason is not because you can escape hell. Do we understand? I am not a disciple in order for me not to end up in hell. If that is your understanding of why you are following Christ, then do you know what is in your heart? There is fear in your heart. Do you know the type of fear? The fear of hell! You don't get what I'm saying. We are not believers; we are not disciples because we don't want to go to hell. We are disciples because we are Christ-like. A disciple is one who has submitted himself or herself to the tutelage, the life, the pattern that Christ has laid down.

There were disciples before there were Christians. It was only in Antioch that they called them Christians. Jesus started with disciples, people who left all and followed Him. I'm not sure Peter and co were thinking about hell when Jesus came to them. There was no preoccupation of hell in their heart or let me just live piously on earth so that I don't go to hell. They were just people who were doing their businesses. And when Jesus came to them, he said, “Follow me” and the left all and followed Him. So, you're not a disciple because of the fear of hell. That fear does not even supposed to exist around you. The Bible says, “You are heavenly bound when you are in Christ Jesus.” Therefore, hell should be the least of your worries.

When you go out to preach to people, don't preach hell to them, don't preach hell to people. Do you understand what I'm saying? Preach Christ to people. Christ is about a life. Christ is about love. When Christ says “go and disciple nations” he did not say to go and disciple hell out of them. Of course, when people follow Christ, they escape hell. The kingdom of God is beyond hell. There is no competition between the two realms. God is not competing over you so that you don't go to hell. No, is much more than that. There is a kingdom in whose God as put His sons to rule and reign. What God has put us on earth to do is to establish His kingdom. You are a disciple so that you can extend the kingdom of God. Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek you for the kingdom of God and His righteousness and every other thing will be added on to you.”

The only time people will go to hell is when they refuse to accept Christ. The Bible says in John 3:18 that anyone who refuses Christ is condemned already. Jesus never sends us to go and condemn the world. The only thing he said is go and preach the Good News of the Kingdom. Anyone who hears you and receive Christ, glory be to God. Anyone who does not receive you is condemned already (John 3:18). In other words, they rejected the love of God, and the consequences that follow is their choice. Never go to a church where they are scaring you with hell. Like “if you don't pay your tithes, you go to hell, if you don't do this, you go to hell, if you don't do that”, no, if you're a disciple of Christ, it is not all about hell, it is about the kingdom. Did we see that? So, Luke said, “I bestow upon you a kingdom, a kingdom, just as my father bestowed one upon me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel.” So, our future in Christ Jesus is about choosing Him to remain perpetually in Him, there is nothing that you ever let go for Christ, that will not come to you.

Now is following Christ a waste of time or not? At some point, some people will ask themselves this question: Why am I even following Jesus Christ? Is it worth it? Do I have a future in Christ Jesus? Is there hope for me, following Christ? You see, the truth of the matter is that it is beyond that. Let me show you a Scripture in 1^st Peter 4:1-6. The truth of the matter is that following Christ has never been and will never be a waste of time. The Bible says:

“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, ² that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”

Why do we follow Christ in the first place? The answer is very simple. It is for the will of God. Christ Jesus came to fulfil the will of God, and we are we are found in Christ to fulfill the same will. The will of God is the primary reason, the number one reason why we choose to follow Christ, not because of any other mundane, or anything else. Did we see that?

³ For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries…” These were the things we were doing before Christ came, this was not our life. We do not live our lives like the rest of the gentiles live. Do we understand? You can't continue your life in drunkenness, in lewdness, in lust and then you think this is the life that God has made available for you, no. Your life is bigger than all this. Do we understand? It is more than that. Did we see that?

⁴ In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. ⁵ They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. ⁶ For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

You see, following Christ Jesus in discipleship is about the life of the Spirit. It is not about those mundane things of life, it is not about doing what we choose we want to do, it's about the will of God. Jesus said to His disciples, “Go therefore into all the world and make disciples of all nations.” There is a life in God that is bigger than the life we are seen in the flesh. There is no life outside of Christ Jesus. You are a disciple so that the life of Christ can be imparted. There was never an account in the Bible of the first generation of disciples that they ever said they regretted following Christ. If there was one of them, I think the Bible shouldn't be magnanimous enough to document it. Like “there was a time a disciples said, “oh, boy, following Christ was a waste of time.” No, there was none out of the twelve, and the second generation of the disciples, till we get here, that they said, we followed Christ and we regretted.

Did we see that? You can't follow Christ and regret. No one has ever followed Christ and regret. No one. The Bible says, we will give account, we will appear before Him and give account. What exactly will you tell your maker that you are here on earth to do? What exactly will be your account, what will be your testimony, when you appear before Him? When you are a disciple of Christ, your life is not taken away from you, no, it is at that point that you even gained your life. So, there is a future in following Christ. When we say come, be discipled by Christ, follow Christ; follow His precepts, follow His pattern, His plan for your life, it is not a waste of time. At the end of the day, it says it is for your own benefit. It is for your own good. And so, if there is any decision that you should make, over and over and over again, it is the decision to always follow Christ.

It does not matter whether the situation is palatable or not. It does not matter whether the situation is rosy or not, in discipleship, all these things work together for our good to them who love God, and to those who are called according to His purpose. If there is any decision of your life that you should make over and over again, it is a decision to choose to follow Christ. Jesus said, it will not be rosy. Look at any leader in the world that tells his people the consequences of their action before they start, there was nothing that Jesus hid from anybody that followed Him. Jesus showed them, what the pattern of our discipleship will look like. Jesus never painted any discipleship assignment or training rosy for His disciples. Jesus never said Well, when you come to discipleship, you are going to have all these, no. Jesus showed them the other side first before showing them the good side.

So, Jesus told them there will be tribulation. He says many of you will be locked in prison. He says many of you will be beaten. And there is hardly any disciple of Christ who never experience those things. Did we see that? There was no single disciple of Jesus Christ that was not persecuted. I guess it was only Judas that was not persecuted because he didn't even finish. The remaining eleven, go and read about how they departed. It was cruelty. Let's assume we didn't even live in the time of Peter and all that, go and read some contemporary histories of discipleship, people who followed Christ, what they suffered.

But in all of these things, Paul said, we are more than conqueror. What will make Paul go through such a system that shrink life out of him physically. The Bible says he was beaten, wipes, he was beaten 40 times five different occasions. He suffered shipwreck, all manner of things that Paul went through. For what? But Paul saw something. He saw the revelation of Christ and he saw the revelation of the future.  Do we understand? So don't say “well, discipleship is all of this and all of that, therefore I am not giving myself to it.” No, give yourself to it. Jesus said, “If you lose your life in the process, he says you will gain it.” I pray the Lord will help us in Jesus’ name. Discipleship is not rosy but there is a future in it that Christ has promised us. And so, if you want to make up your mind, to say, “Lord, I am ready, I'm set to do this for the rest of my life. I want to follow you”, then it is a good decision.

May the Lord help us in Jesus’ name.

Thanks for the gift of your time, Obayomi Abiola Benjamin!
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