“YE will not come to me.” How very touching are these words spoken by our blessed Lord! Man’s will, ever at variance with God since Adam’s fall, loses no opportunity of displaying itself. Long before a child can walk we see it asserting its will.
Weeping over the favored city of Jerusalem, the loving Saviour’s words are, “How often would I have gathered thy children together as a hen gathereth her chickens, and ye would not” (Matt. 23:3737O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matthew 23:37)). I would, ye would not. Mark the words of Thomas, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not [not” cannot”] believe.”
Reader, are you one of those to whom the Saviour pathetically says, “Ye will not come to me that ye might have life?” (John 5:4040And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. (John 5:40)). Oh, pause and consider ere it be too late. While you are unwilling, He is so willing-waiting with hand stretched out to receive all who will come. Grieve then His heart of love no longer, He is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:99The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)). Soon the day of grace will be over, then for those who have so persistently refused His loving call it will be forever too late, and “what will ye do in the day of visitation?”
You may possibly have had twenty, thirty, or forty years grace, out I coma not say you will have five minutes-five seconds more. Oh then, delay no longer, yield to Him at once. “Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.”
It may be this will meet the eye of one who, like the writer, was willing and long wished to be assured of salvation, who found no comfort in reformation and sacraments. To such a one I would say, open your Bible and turn to Romans 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9). “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” “Shalt believe,” “shalt confess,” “shalt be saved.” Do not wait for feelings, the very moment you believe and confess you are saved.
If you cast yourself unreservedly on the mercy of God, you will find nothing against you.
“All the billows rolled o’er Jesus,
There they spent their utmost power.”
“He himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree.” We were helpless, but God has “laid help on one that is mighty.” He has fully paid our debt, and God is too just to demand payment a second time.
I beseech you, despise not His loving invitation. He says, “I will give unto him that is athirst, of the fountain of the water of life freely”(Rev. 21:66And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. (Revelation 21:6)). And at the very close of the precious book, ere His lips are closed for centuries, it is Jesus Himself who is speaking and repeating His offer, “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:1717And 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)). Reader, will you take it?
M. W.