Revelation 22:14-15 “Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are those who wash their robes [in the blood of Christ by believing and trusting in Him—the righteous who do His commandments], so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs [the godless, the impure, those of low moral character] and the sorcerers [with their intoxicating drugs, and magic arts], and the immoral persons [the perverted, the molesters, and the adulterers], and the murderers, and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying (deception, cheating).
Dr. Nolte says that it is about three little words: I see you. That is what Jesus said to Peter, to Nathanael, to you and to me. That should be the most comforting, awesome, and wonderful thought that you can have. We all deserve the lake of fire for our sinful prideful, arrogant rebellion and doubt of God, but God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus
(Ephesians 2:4-6), when we repent of our many sins, accept Christ’s atoning death in our place as the gift of God and choose to follow Jesus as Lord of all. Jesus says in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad
and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to[everlasting] life, and there are few who find it.”
Why is it that Jesus invites people to follow Him? 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” We are created to be known by our Creator, He knows us and has so much more for us, who follow Him. Why did Jesus change Simon’s name to Cephas (Peter – meaning the Rock)? Because Jesus knew him and that on the bedrock confusion of Peter in Mathew 16:16 that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the living God, that Christ was going to build His church. Jesus answered him [Nathanael], “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” That future was promised to Nathanael to see and experience so much more. That is also why you and I are invited to follow Jesus.
The Westminster Shorter Catechism of faith states that the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. That is the foundation that we build our life and living upon. Connect with your Creator, Father God in a personal relationship, glorify Him in everything that you do, and enjoy that experience forever. That is God’s intention for us and why we are invited to follow Jesus. Saint Augustine said to God, “You made us for yourself and our heart is restless until we find our home.” We were created by God, to know God, to enjoy God, and walk with God. That is how we were created. The spirit is restless because something is taken away; a relationship with our heavenly Father. We invite you to come and see Jesus for yourself.
In the adventure and journey of life, we realize that we are a work in progress and God is working with us, wherever we are on that journey. Sometimes, we are so far off from where we need to be in order to be running well. We are never going to get on the perfect mark, but when we are off the mark we don’t run well, But, God wants to adjust and change us in little ways, then the mark moves closer to where it was designed.
On the journey of life, what are you looking for? That is what Jesus asked of the first disciples. If you are following Jesus right now, this is the question for somebody that you already know who doesn’t know the Lord. Because of your relationship with them, you already know what is going on in their life. “What are you looking for?” is the initiation, then comes the invitation to come and get the answer by you saying, “I know where we can look” in Jesus and my church. If you are not following Jesus today, then (same question) “What are you looking for?” Disciples are human and sometimes a little off the mark, but know where to look and simply say come and see for yourself. And we would not be who we are as a church and people who love Jesus and one another if we were not clear and giving every opportunity to say “what are you looking for?” You are created by God to know God and enjoy God forever. You find home when you say “yes” to Jesus.
It’s not complicated: Simply believing that God is real and loves you, that Jesus came, lived, died for your sin and rose again so our sins would not keep us separated from God. The good news of the Gospel is that if you believe it, repent of your sin and you accept what Jesus did on your behalf (washing us clean in the atoning blood of Christ by believing and trusting in Him), then your relationship with God can be restored and your journey with God begins. If you do that, God promises to forgive you of all of your sins, fully adopt you into the family of God, to fill you with His person and His presence in the indwelling Holy Spirit and when this life journey is over to welcome you into eternity with Himself in the kingdom of Heaven. That is the invitation. Yes, today Jesus, I will follow you.
In Christ, Brian
No comments:
Post a Comment