With God There Is No Plan B

Luke 5:27

A certain preacher used to say: "It didn't matter if the message was long or short; what's important is that it is complete." There are very short phrases in the Bible that evoke a profound reaction and acceptance. God's character is that of a serious person who does not change or mutate; what God says He will do, He does, and when He makes a calling, He expects only one response.

Man, on the contrary, is often fickle and uncertain. Human words and promises are frequently carried away by the wind. When we receive a word from God, we tend to question it, look for other options, or our response is “let me think about it,” “I’ll see,” or “give me some time to respond.” But simply put, God is not a God of multiple choices; He is of a single choice: you either give an affirmative answer or you reject it. It's that simple.

We see the example of Abraham. God gave him a calling and an offer that required a single response: "Leave your country, become a pilgrim, obey me, and I will bless you." And Abraham left. There was no "maybe," nor an "what if this or that happens." Abraham trusted in God's promise, and because of that, God accepted him and said: "I am your God, and you are mine." Whoever trusts in God belongs to Him. There is an exclusivity in these words: "I will bless you, but you belong to Me. You are Mine."

In the Bible, every man called by God seemed improbable according to human standards, as no man was perfect. All are called by the grace of God, just as we were. A clear example is Levi (Matthew). Levi was a publican, a tax collector despised by his people for collaborating with the Roman Empire. They were held in the lowest esteem, categorized alongside the worst sinners. They could not enter synagogues or pray; they were seen as traitors.

However, Jesus saw Levi sitting at the tax booth and told him directly: "Follow me". Levi responded immediately, leaving everything behind to follow Jesus. He didn't ask why or what for; his only option was to follow the Master. Instantly, Matthew got up, left all he had, and followed Him. There was no Plan B; there was no other option.

Today, many do not understand this call to follow Jesus. There are excuses, there are other priorities. Some respond like that man in Luke 9:59: "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus told him: "Let the dead bury their own dead." Or like the other who said: "Lord, I will follow you, but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family." Jesus was clear: "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

The call "Follow me" is a message of transformation. Jesus was telling Levi that his place and his life needed to change. It is a call to rise up and embark on a new path, to follow in Jesus' footsteps, learn from Him, and walk behind Him. It is not a suggestion; it is a command laden with authority. It is not an option among many; it is the only option.

Many will lose their salvation because their lives are more tangled in the affairs of this world than in announcing the kingdom of God. Abraham, Matthew, and others left everything to follow the Master. In God's plans, there are no two paths, only one: either you follow Him and leave everything, or you stay behind. Like Peter, who at one point followed Jesus from a distance and ended up denying Him, following the Lord "on the margins" or with reservations leads to coldness and a loss of passion.

Today, many renounce the Lord and leave everything for their secular responsibilities, saying "I don't have time" or "I am very busy," thinking they can follow Him as a "Plan D." But for God, there are no alternative plans. Jesus' call still resonates today: Are you willing to follow Christ? Our love for Him must be so great that we are willing to overcome any obstacle. Life is brief, and the call is urgent. Following the Lord implies not looking back, leaving behind what distances us from Him, and following Him with absolute determination.