Who Drew You To Jesus?

"… Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3)

The word except is a conjunction with the same meaning as the word unless. It is a word that indicates the circumstance. With it’s use, one condition is stipulated by another. Therefore, the condition of perishing is determined by the condition of repentance. If one repents, he will not perish. Likewise, if he does not repent, perish he will.

We see this also in the following verse:

"… Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)

The stipulation for seeing the kingdom of God is that one must be born again. If a man is not born again, he will not see the kingdom of God.
　
Now, consider what Jesus said in the gospel of John.

“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44)

You will note that Jesus did not say “no man will come.” Rather, he said “no man can come.” For one to be able to come to the Son, he must be drawn by the Father. If he is not drawn by the Father, he can not come to the Son.

That is a serious stipulation!

Too many people think they have come to Jesus, when the truth is they have not. They have been coaxed or pressured by men to come. They have been told by men what to believe, what to do, and how to do it. They have simply accepted a religion passed on to them by family or friends. They have been taught by men and not by God. (John 6:45) Yet, no one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws him.

Have you not read that those who are born again are born of God and not by the will of man? (John 1:13) Do you not know that that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit? (John 3:6)

Conversion is a work of God in a man’s heart. Jesus said, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” (John 6:29)

I urge you to "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" ( 2 Corinthians 13:5)

Who drew you to Jesus?

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What Are You Afraid Of?

Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah. ~ Psalm 9:20

I recently did a search on the various fears people may have. Checking numerous sources, I found the following to be among the ten most common, though not necessarily in this order:

1. Spiders
2. Heights
3. Flying
4. Storms
5. Death
6. Crowds
7. Confined spaces
8. Vomiting
9. Cancer
10. Germs

I read of people becoming so bound by their fear that it is a great hindrance in their lives. For instance, some become so afraid of germs that they will never leave their homes, while others fear cancer so much they avoid anyone they know who has it.

There is a sobering irony in all of this. Men being cumbered in fears they should not have, while lacking the one fear that should utterly grip their hearts. That is... the fear of the Lord.

Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. (Psalm 33:8)

Jesus said… “But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” (Luke 12:5)

Sinful men are at enmity with their Creator. They have violated His holy standards. They have rebelled against their Maker. They have become defiled and unclean things. God is angry with them. His wrath now abides upon them. One day this just and mighty God will pour out His wrath upon all who work iniquity and cause offence. They will be cast into hell where they will spend an eternity separated from Him.

Should not men fear God? Indeed! Yet, to the destruction of their own souls, they do not.

Look at the list. Do your own search. You will not find the fear of God among the common fears people have. Truly, as we have been told:

“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:18)

How utterly tragic this is. Because…

He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them. (Psalm 145:19)

and…

The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy. (Psalm 147:11)

Do you "Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling?" (Psalm 2:11)

　
What are you afraid of?


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Do You Really Want To Know Jesus?

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; ~ Philippians 3:10

　
Here the apostle Paul speaks of a ‘knowledge’ of Jesus that goes way beyond some simple head knowledge and is much deeper than a sentimental affection. Truly, it is a knowledge of the most intimate type.

Paul wants to be so identified with the nature and character of Jesus that he is willing to suffer to the point of death that he might know the power of His resurrection.

Listen to what Paul is saying.

He is saying:

I want to know what it is to be mocked, despised, and tormented for God.
I want to know what it is to be so hated by this world that I am put to death.
I want to know His victorious power of resurrection to life!
I want to know Him!!!

Obviously, Paul is not talking about some casual Sunday-go-to-meeting type fellowship. He is speaking of a total sold-out surrender that goes way beyond that.

Think about that for a moment.

Let that sink deeply into your mind.

Then ask yourself... “Do I really want to know Jesus?”

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