I wasn’t then but wanted to be. I’m still not but no longer care.

I was an ordinary kid. Not oooed and ahhed over by the girls. Not the teacher’s pet. Didn’t make straight A’s or have perfect attendance. I was skinny, freckle faced, wore glasses and came from a middle class family with a preacher for a dad. Popularity simply wasn’t in the mix and being good didn’t help.

In high school, I decided to try another route. If good didn’t work maybe bad would. So I did all the don’ts: cut school, drank, cursed, harassed teachers, and experimented with drugs. Typical seventies hippie behavior. But that didn’t work either; it only brought trouble.

Jesus didn’t have a popularity problem: Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him (Matthew 4:25 NIV). His popularity was so intense he had to climb the mountain to escape.

But Jesus’ didn’t crave popularity at any cost. He preached the good news about his Kingdom; news requiring followers to admit their sins, sacrifice their time, love the unlovable, give away money and possessions and sometimes leave their family or lose their life.

The difference between Jesus and me is he didn’t compromise his principles for popularity and short lived acceptance. He stuck to his beliefs even if it meant losing potential friends; and it did. When prospective followers heard the requirements, many chose another idol: From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him (John 6:66 NIV).

The Bible’s message is clear but unpopular: we’re all sinners and hell is our destiny. But God loves us, sent Jesus to pay for our sins and offers forgiveness to all who ask.

I’ve discovered following Jesus isn’t always popular, and many won’t accept me. But I can’t straddle the fence. I’m either for him or against him; I accept his salve for my predicament or trade it for potential esteem from others.

Acceptance from Jesus outweighs popularity with others. Sometimes we get both; often we don’t. Which do you prefer? When other’s acceptance tempts you to disobey God, train your eyes on the eternal prize.

Martin Wiles mandmwiles@homesc.com
Harleyville, South Carolina, USA
www.morningliteministry.com