… because you obey the LORD your God by keeping all his commands that I am giving you today and doing what is right in his eyes. – Deuteronomy 13:18

Today's Scripture Reading (January 14, 2022): Deuteronomy 13

According to legend, the man's name was Nokseng, and he was a member of the Garo people in India. The Garo were known to be a bloodthirsty tribe that lived in an inhospitable area. It was said that the home of the Garo was so inhospitable that it would be impossible for a white man to live there. Yet, in the wake of the Welsh revival in the middle of the nineteenth century, missionaries still wanted to go to the Garo and preach the name of Jesus.

Nokseng was receptive to the Christian message, and he accepted the announcement of the Welsh missionaries, becoming part of the tribe of Christians. The Garo Chief was not amused. He demanded that Nokseng and his wife and two boys be brought to him immediately. The Chief demanded that the Nokseng renounce his new faith. But Nokseng refused. According to the story, Nokseng looked at the Chief of the Garo people and said, "I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back.'

The Chief turned to his archers and instructed them to shoot the boys. After his order had been followed, the Chief turned back to Nokseng. "Now give up your faith. You have lost both of your children, and I will kill your wife next.

Nokseng was determined. He looked at his Chief and responded. "Though none go with me, still I will follow." The Chief motioned to his archer, and the archer shot Nokseng's wife. With Nokseng's whole family dead, the Chief gave Nokseng one more chance to renounce his new faith. Nokseng faced his chief one last time and said the last words he would utter on this earth. "The cross before me, the world behind me. No turning back."

The Chief's archer fired one more time, killing Nokseng where he stood. But the Chief was left with an incredible story. Why, in the face of immediate death for him and his family, did Nokseng refuse to renounce his faith. There had to be more to the story about this man who had lived almost 2,000 years ago and on a different continent. "There must be some supernatural power behind the family, and I, too, want that supernatural power."

Then the Chief made a declaration to his people. He, too, now belonged to Jesus. Years later, an Indian Christian Missionary heard the story of Nokseng and the Garo people and immortalized the last words of this Christian Garo man in the song "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus."

It is the question that Moses asks his people as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.

What would it take to lead you away from God? Would signs and wonders do it? What if your mate forsook God, or all of your friends? What if culture, or nationalism, or ethnic ties called you away from Jesus? We must never allow such ties to come before our bond to Jesus. We must decide, as the song says, "Though none go with me, still I will follow" (David Guzik).

Before they crossed the Jordan River and began the process of taking the land that God was giving them, they had to decide. Were they willing to obey God in the face of the obstacles that were waiting for them there? Would they do what was right in the eyes of God?

What is our answer? Have we decided to follow Jesus? No turning back.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 14