May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. (Mark 1:13-20)

In Christ's name and to his glory, dear friends: Today we hear Jesus say to his first Apostles: "follow me." Two important things we ought to, right away, realize about these words. First, this was not merely an invitation and suggestion as when someone invites us to dine at their home or attend a party. These words are a divine command carrying with them the power to convince and move to action, as when Jesus told the blind to see, the lame to walk, the stormy see to be calm. Second, these words are not limited by time and space. The very same words from the very same Lord Jesus stretch out over the centuries to reach us today with the same powerful effect. Jesus' words FOLLOW ME fall on our ears and hearts today that they may have the same divine and wonderful effect on us as they did on Peter and Andrew, James and John. Let us see how these words change our eternal future and therefore change our present as well.

These words change our eternal future. Follow me, Jesus said. No sinful human in his natural sin-sick condition wants to or is able to listen to these words. That's why Jesus sets up his words with this background and declaration--"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" People are powerless, so I come with my kingdom to them, says Jesus; I am near. You need not wait as if Christ's kingdom is somewhere off in the future. You need not travel to a distant land as if the kingdom is confined by space in a certain location. I am near, Immanuel. And my kingdom is this-I will fight against the enemies of mankind and be their champion. I shall free them from Satan.

Therefore, repent and believe. Repent-change your mind. Change your mind about yourself and your sin. Sin is not some minor flaw in people. It is serious business that those God created cannot and refuse to live responsibly in love before the Lord and fellow man. We are responsible to the Lord for every and all staying from his commands. (Hebrews 10:13/1 Corinthians 15:56) And we only fool ourselves if we think that we can cover over or make up for our own sin. People keep trying to, but repent-change your mind about that. And believe-trust what God tells you when he says I sent my Son to save you. Look to him, and though it may not make sense to your human logic, believe what I say when I say that I presented my Son as a sacrifice of atonement. I am both the one who demands righteousness, sinlessness, from you and the one who provides you with righteousness by declaring you not guilty of sin through my Son's blood.

Now, remember that those words-repent and believe-are not mere invitations but divine commands that cause to happen what the words require. Let them pour over you and your heart. Repent and believe. And remember, these words spoken long ago far away reach out over the miles and time and fall on our ears today. These are still the words of the Lord Jesus himself and they are as powerful and true as if we were present then to hear them. This is so because the same Jesus is here with us today, though invisible, and his words still pull us, draw us, change us, strengthen our faith and trust. His words today make sure I know that my eternity is set for heaven by his grace. What amazing words!

And because my eternity is surely with my Savior, that shapes how I live today

These words change our present as well. Follow me, said Jesus to Peter and Andrew, James and John, and I will make you fishers of men. This was not their conversion. These men were disciples of John the Baptist and already believed that Jesus of Nazareth was, as John said, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Follow me was the gracious and powerful call to become full time ministers. They left their nets for now they would become those of whom it says: those who preach the Gospel should receive their living by the Gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:14).

But remember, Jesus words reach out over the space and time to fall on our hearts today. He says, Follow me, and it is our call as well. Perhaps not to change profession and become a full time minister, but still these words call every Christian. Follow me and serve me where you are. Follow me and have renewed determination to love spouse and family and see your responsibility as husband, wife, or child as God's calling for you, not a mere accident of happenchance. Follow me and see that God wants you to be a part of his kingdom work even if you don't wear a robe and proclaim the Gospel professionally. Follow me and be my representative in the world. Show people the Lord's love by loving and serving and kindness. Point others to the words of Jesus that change our eternal future. Support that work with your participation. Follow me and live in the world without becoming engrossed with the world. As the Apostle urged us today: What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. (1 Corinthians 7:29-31) Follow me and keep separate from the world that is on it's way to the opposite place you are going.

And when we are weak, when we've failed to be what God wants us to be, then Jesus comes near to us again and again-repent, believe, follow-and those powerful words keep us.   Amen.