The Basics

And another man said, I will come with you, Lord, but first let me say a last good-day to those who are at my house. But Jesus said, No man, having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is good enough for the kingdom of God.
The Lord Jesus could see the lurking weakness and indecision which, when he arrived home, would keep him there, concerned only with that which was immediately in front of him and making him forgetful of his promise to Christ.
Therefore the Master said, "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is good enough for the kingdom of God."
That man gives us a picture of people who, from one cause or another, have "buts" which prevent them from following Christ.
Tonight we want to consider some of these hesitations/buts and suggest reasons why we can lay them aside and trust the Lord Jesus Christ.

First of all, a few words about the meaning of following Christ. It is all summed up in two words, Trust and Obedience.
Following Christ means that I trust myself entirely to Christ as my Saviour. I recognize and admit that I am a sinner and that I am utterly helpless to purify my own life. I come to the Lord Jesus for HIS pardon and cleansing.
Following Christ means, then, that I obey Him implicitly as my Master and Lord. Being my Master means that He has authority to direct my life and that I allow Him to reign over and control the whole of my life in every single area. This is following Christ-Trust and Obedience. Not one only, but the two, inseparably connected.
If I say I trust Christ, but I don't obey Him, then I am making a mockery of my faith. On the other hand, if I try to obey the commands of Christ without first putting my life in His hands, then I am saying that I can work for my own salvation, which isn't possible.