Following Jesus, Part 4: Safe Uncertainty

In the end of the 9th chapter of Luke's Gospel, we find three potential disciples. Each reveals a certain misconception of what following Jesus means. The first one says, "I will follow You wherever You go." He was not called by Jesus and thus does not understand what discipleship entails. He is ready to follow Jesus, yet Jesus' response reveals that he is more committed to what he thinks discipleship is rather than to Jesus Himself. His "wherever" has a certain meaning. "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head," Jesus says. Birds and foxes have more security and certainty in life than He does. Anyone who wishes to follow Jesus must embrace a life of uncertainty. However, this uncertainty is safe. A disciple does not know what tomorrow is going to bring but he is safe because Jesus will be with him tomorrow as He was yesterday and is today. A follower does not know where he will go next but he is safe because he will be following Jesus. Such is the paradox of safe uncertainty. That is why it is so important to be called by Jesus and not to embark on the journey based on one's own perception of discipleship.
The second man heard the call but said "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." He thought discipleship could wait. Other things demanded his attention first. Jesus says, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." Discipleship means a life of unconditional commitment. It is about you, it is about right now, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.
The third man, like the first one, was not called to follow Jesus but came up with the idea on his own. He also came up with some conditions: "I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home." Jesus, rather harshly, replied, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Discipleship means embracing a life of single focus. It is to be pure of heart. A.W. Pink calls this life single focus "godly simplicity".
We don't know whether any of the three became true followers of Jesus. As for us, though, we are called to embrace a life of safe uncertainty, unconditional commitment and single focus.