Walking With the Lord

Narrator: Chris Genthree
Duration: 7min
John 6:45  •  6 min. read  •  grade level: 5
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There is a very solemn truth in these words of Jesus, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” This is so, as it regards the salvation of the soul. Man will not come to Christ; he will do his own will, and that will is sin. But there is another sense in which this is true; “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.” We shall see in the next verse that it is written, “And they shall all be taught of God.” (John 6:37, 44, 4537All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)
44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. (John 6:44‑45).) This is a wonderful promise to those whom the Father draws to Christ. “They shall be all taught of God.” Jesus spoke further on this subject. “And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.” (Ver. 65.) There is then a coming unto Jesus: that no one can take, unless it be given him of the Father. Any other position, a man can take according to his own choice, or will. He can be a Romanist, or a Protestant, a so-called Churchman, or a Dissenter—he can join any of the divisions of Christendom. But Jesus says, “No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.” And, in contrast with all the error and discord of men, it is written of such, “They shall be all taught of God.” They are taught of God to be gathered together in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
No doubt this is very separating truth. It is a searching question, Have I been thus drawn to the Lord Jesus Himself? Has this high privilege been given in richest grace unto me of the Father? Is there such a reality in these days of division? There is such a position distinctly pointed out in the very last days of Christendom. In the revelation of the Lord’s judgment of Romanism, and of Protestantism as it now is. (Rev. 2:18-29; 3:1-618And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; 19I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. 20Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. 24But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. 25But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. 26And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28And I will give him the morning star. 29He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 2:18‑29)
1And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 4Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 3:1‑6).) The Lord reveals Himself also to a feeble company or remnant, as He that is the holy and the true. He says, “Thou hast a little strength, and hast not denied my name.” And this remnant is told, “Behold I come quickly; hold that fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” This is not gathering merely as a multitude professedly to Jesus; but it is holding fast the testimony of Holiness and Truth. To hold His name, or bear His name, with unrighteousness, would be to deny Him who is the holy and the true.
This position then in holiness and truth is to be held fast until the coming of the Lord by those to whom it is given of the Father. We have said before this is separating truth. It did separate. There was a crowd apparently gathered to Jesus and walking with Him. “And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” We have seen this again forty years ago. A testing time came whether the testimony should be to “he that is holy, and he that is true.” And “from that time many of his disciples walked no more with him.” What a warning fact this is to all professedly gathered to Him. Oh, how many that turned aside then, and since, walked no more with Him.
From time to time profession is tested. Has not such a moment again arrived? Oh, how many that one might have thought would have walked with Him, until caught up to meet Him in the air, are being turned aside from Him that is holy and true! We do not here speak of the question of salvation; but of that unspeakably blessed position of walking with Him and gathered to Him in holiness and truth. Oh let such remember those words, “Walked no more with Him.” Some may be deceived by fair words, and turned aside for a moment, and will be restored. But does not the heart of Christ feel the perverse things said to lead away disciples? Let such ponder that verse in the prophets, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight.” (Isa. 5:20, 2120Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! (Isaiah 5:20‑21).)
Some who read these lines may be tempted to say, “that the highly privileged place of being gathered to Christ the holy, the true, is all gone and lost, and that there is nothing left but the individual salvation of God. We might as well give up all else, there is nothing left of that blessed position we once knew.” Ah, doubting ones, listen not to Satan. Has not Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them?” (Matt. 28:2020Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:20).) Is not this as true now, as if the whole church of God was gathered together as at the beginning? Surely His blessed presence in the assembly is enough, both for authority and blessing, however few, even if two or three are gathered unto Him.
Jesus has now a word with us all. He says, “Will ye also go away?” If the reader has been drawn of the Father from all the divisions of men; if it has been given you of the Father, to come unto the holy and the true; if you know Him, and are really not gathered to the multitude, or to men, but to Christ; then surely your reply must be that of Simon Peter, “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” If gathered amid the redeemed myriads around the Lamb in the glory, would you then depart from Him? Is not His presence as real to faith now as ever it was, where two or three are gathered together in His name?
May we not only enjoy this wondrous position as given to us of the Father; but may He grant that we may answer to it in holiness and truth. Is there any wonder that Satan should seek to mar, and destroy, if he could, that testimony so dear to the Father’s heart? The Father has restored this privilege of being gathered to Christ; may we hold it fast in the peace of His presence; and to any who are tempted to turn aside we would press those solemn words, “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” Oh, beware of ceasing to walk with the Lord.
C. S.