Luke 9:23             “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” There is a way to follow Jesus into eternity, and it is right here. If you say you believe He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved, then action needs to follow your words. Do you actually have a desire to come after Jesus? If so, the first part is to “deny yourself”. What does that look like for you? Genesis 4:7 says “you should rule over sin”. Proverbs 8:13, “the fear of the Lord is to hate evil”. Proverbs 28:13, He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. These are but a few of many that will help you understand the seriousness of what Jesus is saying to those who want to follow Him. The cross is the tool you need to use to kill the flesh so you can live the Spirit-filled Life, for if you “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). The Spirit can’t live in you if you live in sin. Notice, it’s not a one-time thing, but needs to be done daily. You are to have a changed mind to have a changed life. Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). Don’t be so complacent in your Christianity that if the Rapture comes, you miss it. Remember, He will separate the sheep (the doers) from the goats (the hearers), and the sheep will go in with Him. It takes denial, taking up your cross daily, and determination, to follow Jesus. Do you have a desire to come after Him?