After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

– John 6:66-69 (ESV)

This thought hit me today: what would I do without the Lord?

Serious question, that. I’ve been a Christian for over half my life and in many ways I’ve forgotten what it’s like to not have this hope within me. I follow him, many times unsurely, often unfaithfully, yet he goes before me, ever faithful, and his light is the only real light there is, in a world of phantoms and illusions.

I wonder what other people do who don’t have Jesus in their life. What do they chase? Could someone looking at my life see that I chase that which the world doesn’t know or understand?

The band Rush once sang:

Those words are a great picture of life under the sun, viewed through the eyes of an honest unbeliever. The fortune hunt is what most of the world goes after. I know I get sucked into it too; there are so many glittering prizes out there.

Some people taste the Lord, they see that he is good, and yet they still walk away. I can think of some right now who, either temporarily or permanently, have left a life of service to Jesus and the joy that they knew to chase after other things. And, don’t let anyone fool you, “other things” definitely can hold one’s attention. They can bring happiness, even temporal security and fulfillment, no matter what anyone says.

But – man! – I just don’t see how other things can compare to Jesus!

Jesus asks “Do you want to go away as well?”

No way. How could I, Lord? You have the words of eternal life!