"They rolled up on us fast with guns blazin out of their car windows and bullets popping through our ride. Sitting in the driver’s seat at the stop light my reaction was to hit the gas and we started to race away. Before our escape, they hit the car with dozens of rounds, our gang leader was in the passenger seat and fine. My cousin in the backseat was hit multiple times and died on the spot. The other guy in the backseat took a bullet to his shoulder. I was in shock while driving down the road, and realized a bullet when through my leg, when the wetness of the blood leaking through my pants hit me."
Germaine looked at me with a cold stare reflecting on his experience and continued, "We should have never joined that gang and followed that man. The leader taught us to sell dope, rape chicks, steal and kill. We became monsters and now my cousin is dead, but that's Chicago and who I chose to ride with. If I wasn't in prison and out there, I would probably be dead."
Looking back at his past mistakes, Germaine realized he decided to follow the wrong man. He choose the wrong role model, and a bad example to follow, just like King Baasha in the Bible:
"But he did what was evil in the Lord's sight and followed the example of Jeroboam, continuing the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit." 1 Kings 15:34
King Baasha made the mistake of following the example of Jeroboam and his evil path. Our role models and the examples of people we follow must be Godly men that are pursuing Christ. You need to find men of God to follow in the ways of the Lord. Your pastor should inspire you to love God and love people. Whenever you hear him preach it should set a fire under you to be a doer of the Word. If not, you need to find a new church.
"So I urge you to imitate me. That's why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go." 1 Corinthians 4:16-17
Follow men that are following Christ. Those are the kinds of men you want to imitate, a man who is a faithful husband, father, and believer in Christ. You need to have a mentor in the things of the Lord. A man who is setting an example for you to follow Christ Jesus.
If you wanted to learn to play basketball, would have a man teach you that doesn't know how to play? Of course not. It is the same thing with the game of life. Don't follow a man that is failing and going in the wrong direction. Find a coach who is winning at the game of life with Christ and follow his lead. Imitate him as he follows Christ.
(This is an excerpt taken from the book "The Grit" by Clint Rogers)