It is amazing to me! There are people within the ranks of Christianity who have been taught and who believe that Christ will shield His followers from wounds of every kind.
If the truth were known, the saints of God in every age were only effective after they had been wounded. They experienced the humbling wounds that brought contrition, compassion and a yearning for the knowledge of God. I could only wish that more among the followers of Christ knew what some of the early saints meant when they spoke of being wounded by the Holy Spirit.
Think for a moment about the apostle Paul. I suppose there is no theologian living or dead who quite knows what Paul meant when he said, “From henceforth let no man make trouble for me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus” (Galatians 6:17). Every commentary has a different idea. I think Paul referred to the wounds he suffered because of his faith and godly life.
–A.W. Tozer (Men Who Met God, p. 59)
I cringe when people suggest that becoming a follower of Jesus will provide a shield from hurt, pain, and loss. After all, Jesus was nailed to a tree, betrayed by a best friend, and stared death in the eyes. Yes, he triumphed, but he also never went numb. He felt. He sensed. He ached. He cried out.
We will, too.
Sometimes when I invite people to know Jesus I’ll tell them flat out: Becoming a follower of Jesus will not make you skinnier, richer, or more powerful. The words are usually met with nervous laughter, because everyone knows that it’s uncomfortably true. I’m grateful for Tozer’s timeless words.
What do you think are some of the biggest misconceptions people have about becoming a follower of Jesus?
