When I was baptized, after turning (repenting) from my sin and trusting Jesus Christ only as my personal Savior and Lord, I quoted Luke 9:62 while giving my testimony to the congregation of Edina Baptist Church (today Grace Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota). It says in the Christian Standard Bible “But Jesus said to him, ’No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’” Jesus said this to three potential followers as He journeyed to Jerusalem. 

 

It is interesting to note that at times nobody appeared to come to Christ as a result of His teaching. At other times, however, we read that many desired to be among Jesus’ disciples after He taught but some did not continue following Him. Why? Because they were not of the right kind. In Luke 9:57-61 Luke  cited three instances that are typical of many who seemed to be true followers of Christ but did not continue with Him because they were not truly converted to Him. Among the New Oxford American Dictionary’s definitions of the word *convert* it says “cause to change in form, character or function. In the sense of to turn around and send in a different direction.” I think these three instances are written by Luke for the encouragement of those who preach and teach the Gospel today. That is, when we are disappointed when people who appeared to truly trust Christ and then fall away, we can know we are not worse off than our Lord Jesus was. It is tempting to become discouraged and lose heart in ministry when people we thought were genuine followers of Christ do not continue with Him. We need to realize that this happened in Jesus’ ministry and it happens, or will, in ours. 

 

Another thing to note from this text is that the three men do not appear to have any personal sense of sin. Nothing is said about repentance or their need for the Savior. It is a fact that some people who respond to our preaching have not turned from their sin (repented) and trusted Jesus Christ only as their personal Savior and Lord. They jump in and out of their *religion* because they do not have a *relationship* with Christ. They were not converted. If they were genuinely converted they would not again live as those who are unconverted. 

 

To my fellow preachers and teachers of the Gospel, we are not preaching and teaching in order to have converts to our way of thinking or to join our church or so we have a good reputation. We are preaching and teaching the Gospel for the genuine conversion of our hearers and students so they will become lifelong followers of Christ for His glory. Let us continue preaching and teaching the Gospel in the power of the Spirit. Remember we desire genuine followers of Christ not glowing reports and Facebook posts.