FISHERS OF MEN

       When Jesus left Nazareth and came to Capernaum he began to preach, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17).  And he called his disciples promising to make them “fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19).  That was a difficult message at that time and the same message is difficult to spread today. It’s not a message that will attract the majority (Luke 13:23-24), but in our efforts to spread the gospel and make fishers of men, we must not dilute the message or change its foundational elements.

       Repentance literally means ‘to think differently’. Repentance toward salvation requires one to think differently about his own life.  Our life is a life of denial and sacrifice, “…If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).  Paul said, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom 12:1). Even as He preached it, Jesus knew that many would not receive His truth about repentance, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matt. 7:13-15). His foreknowledge is evident as he immediately warned about those who would seek to dilute the difficult messages that are found in God’s Word, and offer an easier, less sacrificial, and less committed path.  A path that could look or sound similar to the one left by our Lord, but that does not lead to Him.

       When we see the various marketing strategies, power points, polished and practiced efforts at oratory, that are poured into the delivery and presentation of the message, it’s easy to forget that those who made a living from the sea, were chosen to be some of the first deliverers of the gospel. I’m not saying these things are inherently wrong, but Paul reminds us of who is more likely to receive the gospel and why, “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence” (1 Cor. 1:26-29). We must not get so caught up in dressing up a difficult truth, that we misrepresent the message of repentance and distract, through entertainment or other diluting elements, the words of truth.  Let’s be humble fishers of men knowing that it’s the Truth, not our technique or technology, that sets men free (John 8:32).

         —Matthew Johnson (Hiram, GA)