Who Should We Not Follow?

Last post I wrote about following Jesus and how many times he told us to do that. God has a lot to say about who not to follow:

1. Jesus said, "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them.  Luke 21:8

 Matthew tells us Jesus went on to say,
 "So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the wilderness,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Matthew 24:26

So we are to be careful not to follow false prophets and false Christs. Jesus second coming will be in the sky, with the clouds, and a loud trumpet sounding. He will not come back any other way. This is how Jesus protects us from lies about his second coming. "Look, he is coming with the clouds," and "every eye will see him, even those who pierced him"; and all peoples on earth "will mourn because of him." So shall it be! Amen. Revelation 1:7

2. "Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, Exodus 23:2

People did this at Jesus' trial, and in our day there are those who are so sure someone is guilty they will manufacture evidence to prove it. Following the crowd in any way can be dangerous. Think for yourself first and bring everything to God.

3. Keep my requirements and do not follow any of the detestable customs that were practiced before you came and do not defile yourselves with them. I am the LORD your God.'" Leviticus 18:30

The detestable customs of the pagan nations were varied. They were violent, they waged war for profit, they sold their enemies as slaves, they had human sacrifices - mostly innocent children, they had temple prostitutes- men and women. We are not to follow what the majority of the nations do. Today, waging war is common and millions of innocent people die. There are sex slaves, there is slave labor, there is oppression and child labor. We are not to follow these practices.

4. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you. Deuteronomy 6:14

There really are no other gods, and that is why we must not follow them. They cannot help us or save us. The so-called gods of the pagans were cruel and their worshipers became cruel also. We become what we worship.

5. My dear friend, do not follow wrong examples, but right ones. He who habitually does what is right is a child of God: he who habitually does what is wrong has not seen God. 3John 1:11

How many times have we followed wrong examples? I hate to remember the times that I have done this.

6. You must have this tassel so that you may look at it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and obey them and so that you do not follow after your own heart and your own eyes that lead you to unfaithfulness. Numbers 15:39

We are not to even follow our own hearts or our own eyes for they will not lead us in the path of righteousness. My heart has led me in the wrong path many times. My eyes have looked on things they shouldn't have. We can't trust our own hearts; we can only trust the heart of Jesus. 

7. Envy not the unjust man, and do not follow his ways. Proverbs 3:31

Why would we envy the unjust man? Perhaps because he has become rich through his evil ways. But that man's life will end up in eternal death. There is no reason to envy him.

8. How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path of sinners or join a group of mockers! Psalm 1:1

I can't count the number of times people have given me bad advice. Most of the time I didn't listen, but sometimes I did. We need to get advice from God through prayer. 

9. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:12

We are not to follow humans, even good Christian men. Paul rebuked the Corinthians for saying these things. We are to follow Jesus alone.