Fit for the kingdom of God

Luke 9:62

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

What a wonderful chapter is Luke 9! Volumes upon volumes could be written upon this one small portion of Scripture. A plethora of topics could be expounded upon by means of this one chapter. But the end of the chapter, particularly the last verse, gives a powerful blow that is unforgettable. A man tells Jesus that he would follow Him wherever He goes. And Jesus bluntly informed the man that He had no place to lay His head. Another man wanted to follow Him, but only with the stipulation that he could go bury his father first, thus placing familial concerns over his love of Christ. Jesus told that man that the dead would bury their dead, “but,” He said, “go thou and preach the kingdom of God.” If our lives are continuously encumbered by the things of this world—relationships, money concerns, or any other distraction from Christ—we shall never follow Him! So when the third man told Jesus that he would follow Him if he could first bid them farewell which were at home at his house, Jesus gave this powerful statement about looking back that we have found here. Jesus knew that the man would go home and never follow Christ. “No man,” He says, “having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” No man! Not fit! The man who looks back is not fit!

Dear friend, would you like to be fit for the kingdom of God? Do you want to be useable? Do you want to be a vessel in His hand? Do you want God to take your life and make it count for the Lord? Shall you make any gains for God’s kingdom? It shall not happen if you are looking back longingly on the things that you miss because of your decision to obey and follow the Lord. Don’t look back! Have you put your hand to the plough? Have you made the choice to follow? Have you said, “I have decided to follow Jesus”? So many have said this, but have not followed up on the decision. They have allowed the distractions and diversions and discouragements of the world to take their eyes off the plough. They have, as lot’s wife, looked back. And we know how useful her life then became. We know the result of that terrible mistake. She never lived it down! Oh, my friend, what is it that God has called you to? Do not look back for any reason! Keep your hands on the plough, and keep your eyes on the Master! For only then will you be fit for His service, and for the kingdom of God!

“Father, we thank You for how You have called us to Your service. You have put the plough in our hands. Please, Lord, let us never divert our eyes from the plough. This is what You have called us to do. May we remain focused and attentive to the work laid out before us. May our eyes look right on, and our eyelids look straight before us. For then, we shall remain in Your service. May we never forget this! In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”