The Second Great Awakening, 1800-1840, produced not only an increase in church membership from 350,000 to 3,000,000, but out of it came some of the great hymns we still sing today. The fundamental purpose of singing hymns is worship, praise, and adoration of God. A second purpose, often overlooked by the singer, is the didactic function teaching the worshipper theology, doctrine, and biblical truths. Biblical scholar Gordon Fee says, “Show me a church’s songs, and I’ll show you their theology.” I’d never actually thought about this but it dawned on me recently that one simple song has served as an underlying motto in my Christian journey—I Have Decided to Follow Jesus. We sang it frequently in the first church we attended. After forty-five years, I realized I still sing it in my head when life gets tough.
Let’s examine the three stanzas and the wealth of biblical truth they proclaim. “I have decided to follow Jesus; No turning back. Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow; No turning back. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus; No turning back.” Nineteen verses record Jesus’ direct invitation “follow Me.” His disciples decided to follow Jesus giving up their careers; Matthew left a lucrative profession as a tax collector. However, others wanted first to take care of family matters; another refused to give up his wealth. Jesus was clear that following Him came with a cost. If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me (Lk 9:23). Deciding becomes the initial step. Jesus doesn’t drag anyone along. Deciding begins as a mental process leading to action.
The action we take starts with following. This indicates we are moving behind someone and going in the same direction. Throughout life, we will encounter countless temptations to follow the wrong people and groups with various false belief systems. These offers don’t end when we begin following Jesus. Some of them come through very subtle teaching. Their goal may only aim at taking you a little off course, slow your pace, or get you to take a break. Following Jesus is an on-going and constant activity. Believers must understand that following Jesus may leave them alone and not in step with the crowd. We are then confronted with a second decision, Tho’ none go, I still will follow. The enticements my not come from other religions or cults. They can come from preachers who present themselves as ‘Bible’ teachers. Numerous times, I’ve found myself the odd ball and left alone because I refused to accept what sounded good to others, but not in line with scripture. But we are never alone. Note Paul’s encouraging words. At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me . . . But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me (2Ti 4:16, 17).
We can best understand the last verse, My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus, by knowing the origin of the words for the song. The composer, an Indian missionary, Sadhu Sundar Singh, based the lyrics on the final words of Nokseng, a Garo man from a tribe in Northeast, India. In the mid-19th century along with his family, he decided to follow Jesus Christ. Brought before the village chief who told him that he must renounce his faith or watch his children slaughtered. Nokseng replied, “I have decided to follow Jesus, and there is no turning back.” After seeing his children killed, the chief again demanded that he recant or see his wife murdered. He responded, “Though none go with me, still I will follow.” Tribesmen shot his wife through with arrows killing her. The leaders then executed him while he was singing, “The cross before me, the world behind me.” A missionary reported this display of faith led to the conversion of the chief and a revival broke out across the village.
Even now in the twenty-first century, thousands daily face this same decision—renounce, recant or we will put you in prison, a labor camp, or execute you. We are not yet to this level of persecution in USA, but rapidly headed in that direction. The Message Bible states in plain language Jesus’ teaching in Matthew. Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how (Matt 16:24 MSG). This begins with the simple things God directs us to do—denying the lust of our flesh, humility instead of pride, severing others, loving certain people, or just pick something you don’t enjoy doing. Multiple promises come with deciding to follow Jesus: the promise of life (Matt 16:24–25). He promises those who follow a hundred times more than what they forsook in the present age and age to come (Mk 10:29–31). We have friendship with God (John 15:14–15). His joy will be in us and will be complete (John 15:9–11).
Each stanza of the song ends with “No turning back, no turning back”. Three questions: have you decided to follow? Have you gotten off-course, slowed down, or taking a break? Are you being tempted to turn back?
Sustaining Word for the Week: Sing or hum the song this week. I have decided to follow Jesus; No turning back. Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow; No turning back. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus; No turning back.