Goodbye John

Just the title seems inappropriate this close to Valentines Day. Most of us are familiar with the term Dear John letter, by the time we have reached the season of courtship in our lives. For the recipient, it may mean devastation. For the sender it may feel like liberation. Saying goodbye is easier for some than others. More often than not, I have seen tears in the eyes of family and dear friends even when we just said a temporary goodbye. Imagine then what a permanent goodbye is like! Imagine what it would be like to put someones memory out of your mind while they yet live! It Happened In The Gospel Of John. John 1:35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; John 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! John 1:37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Every devout Jew knew the meaning of offering a yearly sacrifice for the atoning of his or her sins. It was a major relief for them to feel the guilt and condemnation removed. Yet, they knew they would have to do it all over again next year. These tender-hearted men stood on a river bank that day and listened to a rugged looking and unorthodox preacher. He never played favorites or minced words. His preaching didnt beat around the bush nor was it sugar-coated. Yet, multitudes came to hear him. Today, in the middle of his sermon, John the Baptist saw his cousin Jesus passing by the crowd. John stopped preaching and pointed at Jesus. The crowd turned and looked. Every ounce of Johns voice reverberated with Divine revelation and authority. Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world he said.

Immediately, Two of Johns Disciples Turned and Followed Jesus. They never came up to John and explained why they were leaving. They never waved goodbye to John. They didnt, ask for Johns email address. They didnt ask for his business card. They didnt ask for his cell phone number in case things didnt work out between them and Jesus. They didnt try to Friend John the Baptist on Facebook to stay in touch. They didnt follow him on Twitter. They didnt tell him they would test him later. They simply turned, without a word or a regret, and followed Jesus. This is a beautiful type of how we should follow Jesus.

Of men born of women there was none greater than John the Baptist. No one in his or her right mind would trash the ministry of John. After all, he was the one that brought them all to a place where he could introduce Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah. I dont feel the need to trash whatever denomination or experience has brought you to this point in your life either. When You Are Introduced To Him Through The Cleansing of his blood in baptism in Jesus name, And the in filling of His Spirit evidenced by speaking in tongues

Then Saying Goodbye John Should Seem So Easy! It Should Seem Easy To Say Goodbye To Your Past: When you meet the one who transforms your life, Delivers you from addiction, Forgives your past, Washes you clean in the Pentecostal experience of Acts 2:38, and Gives you the hope of heaven Why would you want to go back to John?

I am always amazed how some wannabe Disciples keep trying hanging on to their old life. For your eternitys sake, let it go. Say goodbye to everything thats not of Jesus. Thank God for whatever brought you to this point in your life. But, John MUST decrease so that HE can increase in your life. Your walk with Jesus will never be what it is meant to be if you keep running back and forth between the two crowds. Im Asking You With All Sincerity. Have you said, Goodbye John, yet or are you still in love with the old life you had before you met Jesus? I Will Never Regret The Day I Said My Goodbyes, And Neither Will You! Im Leaving All To Follow Jesus by Ida M. Budd 1898 (Expired Copyright) Leaving all to follow Jesus, Turning from the world away, Stepping out upon the promise, All I have is His today. Refrain Leaving all to follow Jesus, Turning from the world away, Stepping out upon His promise, All I have is His today.