Will God NOT Let Me Come to Him?
Posted by: biblenotes <biblenotes@...>
From: Martin M Overfield
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000
Will God NOT Let Me Come to Him?
There was a young man praying at an altar. He certainly had
a desire to be right with God, otherwise what I am about to tell
you would not have been a problem to him. He was convinced
that he couldn't come to God just then, because God was not
"drawing" him. But, the very desire for God that was causing him
to seek Him was evidence that God WAS indeed "drawing" him.
When Jesus said, "No man can come to me, except the Father
which hath sent me draw him" (John 6:44), he not only showed how
necessary it is for God to be involved in our salvation and in bringing
us unto salvation, but He was also showing that the very coming of a
soul to God is evidence of God's involvement in that person's heart
and life. Let's not ignore the importance of our cooperation with
God in our coming to Him and living for Him afterwards. Rather,
may we rejoice in His enabling grace, the shed blood of Christ,
and His power to "redeem us from all iniquity" (Titus 2:14).
Some keep themselves back from Christ, because they listen as
the Devil quotes a partial truth that, "No man can come to" Christ,
"except the Father ... draw him".
I dare say, on the authority of God's Word, that if the sinner is trying
to come to God, God IS drawing him, for if you "Draw nigh to God, ...
he will draw nigh to you" (James 4:8).
I am glad that, BEFORE Jesus said, "except the Father draw him"
(John6:44), He said, "Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out."
(John 6:37). It is the Devil's business to convince the repentant or
awakened sinner that there is no hope. If he can do that, then he can
keep him from meeting God's conditions for salvation (a thorough
repentance and simple faith in Christ), and thus keep him from being
saved.
Also, Jesus said, "I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all
men unto me." (John 12:32). By being "lifted up", the Bible is clear
that Jesus was referring to His death by crucifixion. Now I ask, was
Jesus crucified? Yes. Well, He DOES then "draw all men unto"
himself. And, since He said that He and the Father are one
(John 10:30), and that He does nothing but in accordance with His
Father -- "When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know
that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath
taught me, I speak these things." (John 8:28) -- then certainly we can
understand that the Son AND the Father ARE in the business of
bringing "ALL men" unto God.
For "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father
do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise."
(John 5:19).
And, just in case someone is clinging to this misquotation: "Except
the Spirit draw ... no man can come" (or one like it), I would like to
remind us that the Holy Spirit does nothing on His own either. He acts
in complete harmony with the Father and the Son, for He proceedeth
from them (John 15:26) and Jesus said:
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into
all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall
hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He
shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto
you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that
he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you." (John 16:13-16).
YES, God WILL LET us come to Him!
Therefore, let us be encouraged and encourage others with the
great truth that "whosoever will" may come. "And the Spirit and the
bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him
that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life
freely." (Revelation 22:17).
Yours In Christ,
Martin Overfield
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