KAT’S KORNER
I have decided to follow Jesus.
Recently, this song, the lyrics, and the story behind it have been brought to my attention twice. Once when listening to the new Rick Strickland CD and once listening to Pastor Chris on a
podcast from the Highlands Church. I thought, perhaps, I was to share the story for those who didn’t know.
About 150 years ago, a group of missionaries came to Assam, a state in North-east India, to spread the gospel. This region was full of aggressive head-hunters. The missionaries were not
exactly welcomed. One missionary did succeed in bringing one family, a man, his wife, and their two children, to Christ. This conversion was contagious and started to spread. Many villagers began to accept Christianity.
This made the Village Chief very angry and he gathered the
villagers and called the first family that was converted to
renounce their newly found faith publicly or be executed. The man, full of the Holy Spirit, said, “I have decided to follow
Jesus.” The Chief ordered the children killed and asked the man if he now would deny his faith or lose his wife as well.
The man replied, “Though no one joins me, still I will follow.” The Chief ordered the man’s wife to be killed. The Chief was now furious. He gave one last chance for the man to deny his faith and live. The man said, “The cross before me, the world behind me. No turning back.” And he too, was shot.
Then, a miracle took place. The Chief thought, “Why should this man, his wife, and two children die for a man who lived 2000 years ago? There must be remarkable power behind the that faith, and I too want to taste that faith.” Suddenly, the Chief exclaimed, “I too belong to Jesus Christ!” Once the villagers heard this from the Chief’s mouth, the entire village accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior.
The song is based on the last words of Nokseng, a man from the Garo tribe of Assam in India, as his family and then he died. This man’s steadfastness to follow Jesus, no matter the cost, led the tribe to follow Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Let this be an encouragement to stand firm in our faith and faithfully follow Jesus.
“You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 10:22
Kat Boswell
