One might assume that as Jesus promised "I will be with you always...", he will follow us wherever we go. Doesn't he even go on to say, "I will never leave you as orphans" (Jn 14:18)? Surely these are solid proof texts that he will indeed follow us always and everywhere. Yes, they are wonderful "proof texts" but as so often with proof text that would be out of context.
Are the verses above really suggesting that Jesus will go with us into every venture we undertake? Do you suppose he will go with with you when you "go off" on someone else? Do you think he will come on over when we are "getting over" on the unsuspecting? Can you not think of some place you have gone that you doubt Jesus went, maybe even hope he wasn't present?
In the parable known as "The Prodigal Son," does the Father follow the son who chooses to leave his father behind and go to a far away land where he fills his days with drunkenness and sexual promiscuity? No. But did the father leave him? No. The father does not do the leaving and when the son chooses to return, the father welcomes him home (cf. Luke 15:11-31). But the father does not follow the wayward son in his sinful pursuits.
The context of Jesus never leaving us is in the following of him, not in him following us. The call of the Lord is not, "wait up, I'm right behind you!" The call of Jesus is "come follow me" (Mt 4:19). We are further challenged, "take up you cross and follow me" (Mt 16:24). Our call is to a course correction to turn around (repent) of going our way and begin to follow in his path. And, when we do, he will never go off and leave us behind, regardless of how we struggle and stumble along the way. He will wait for us, help us up, set our feet back on solid round. He will never go off and leave us, though we may well leave him behind as we follow ungodly paths. Jus' Say'n.
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