Drawn
For Life
(11-14-04)
John 6:43-51
Jesus tells us something that is worth our paying attention to: no one comes to Jesus
unless the Father draws him. (verse 44) Jesus understood that not all of humanity would respond to the invitation to live.
The truth seems to be that some people are destined for destruction. That gives me little comfort as a preacher and it should
not give the church any comfort. It is arrogant to think in our hearts; “well the road is narrow and few are they who
find it” as if to be something special all by themselves. Arrogance is such a deadly sin.
All of humanity is under the curse and declared guilty by God. No one is righteous, no
not one. There is no room for vanity and pride when compared to the only example of a perfect life and that example is not
any of us. It is Jesus and Him alone who is worthy of that honor. I say this so that we remember from what we are made. We
are all fashioned from the same substance and nature as Adam.
Take to heart Jesus’ words – “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I
will raise him up at the last day.” Later Jesus –"This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father
has enabled him." (verse 65) The heavenly Father draws people to himself for life; life eternal. Sadly some people
refuse the Fathers call. When Jesus made these statements He was being challenged to prove He was who and what He was claiming
to be, the Messiah.
Jesus declared to them that He was the bread from heaven
that God has given to the world so that it may live. (verses 32-33) The old saying is true, ‘you can lead a horse to
water, but you can’t make him drink.’ Not every body believes and in their unbelief they perish for ever.
Now lets make this personal, you each have been called to
Jesus by the Father. The instruments of God’s calling, what He uses to call men and woman to himself are His children,
those who have already accepted His call. Everyone is in one of those two categories here today. Called or calling. If you
are one who has been called, my advice to you is: answer the call by submitting to God’s will for you. The Lords kindness
and mercy towards you will not go on forever. At some point He will remove His invitation to enter into life eternal and all
the blessings that go with it.
Jesus gives this promise of assurance – “39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall
lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.” And Jesus goes on to say –
“40 For my Father's will is
that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
It might be worth knowing that the Call of God is more a
command than an invitation and to refuse is less about unbelief and more about being stubborn and rebellious and disobedient.
Take this to heart, Gods wrath is kindled against the rebellious, repent!
Now to you who have accepted God’s calling, are you
being all that God and your Lord Jesus would be pleased with? Is your life a living demonstration of having been made alive
in Him? How many people who God desires to call to himself so that He might save them, refuse because they see no advantage
in doing so because of who and what you are? What I mean is, does your life demonstrate that you know and have been touched
and transformed by the redeeming hand of the Almighty. If not, repent!
Jesus tells us ‘you are what you eat!’ (Not
the phrase but the principle.) (verses 35, 41b, 48-51, 53-58) 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will
live because of me. Are you living in life because of Jesus? It is He who holds you in His loving and merciful hands.
As Jesus is Lord of Heaven so is He Lord of Earth. Glorify Him by how you live so that His calling will bear its fruit. Amen!
