Not When YOU Say So...

Not When You Say So
Written By, Pastor Stephen Benton

 

I often hear unbelievers talk about “joining up”, a phrase used for accepting Christ or becoming a member of a church, or getting saved.  That comment and similar phrases show their ignorance regarding the salvation process and the operation of God concerning such matters.  This is not a new concept; it existed in the time of Christ and in reality, during the time of the Old Testament Church in the wilderness.  Regarding the latter, God chose a man named Abraham and promised to make his seed a great nation.  Many are under the impression that God chose the Jews and made them his chosen people.  With that idea lies the concept that the Jews or Israelites are somehow a better class of people who impressed God to such a degree that they became his favorites.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  God has a history of choosing the least desirable, a fact brought out by the Apostle Paul in first Corinthians 1:26

 

“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 

 

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 

 

And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen...”

 

From those words we can conclude that Israel was chosen for the same reasons, seeing as how God changes not.  He chose Israel out of all nations of the world for the purpose of making himself known to the nations of the world.  It worked.

 

Jesus himself made it clear that coming to God or joining up is not a choice of individual but exclusively an operation of the sovereign will of God.  That includes both the individual who is called as well as the time of the calling.  A simple example of such is found in the story of the birth of Jesus and the message of the angel to the shepherds in the field.  Their message:

 

“Born unto you this day in the city of David...”

 

Upon hearing that news the shepherds said, “...let us go now even now unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass...”

 

The Christ was not born according to their schedule but at a time determined by God.  They were smart and acted immediately.  What a wonderful and unique opportunity, a chance to see the arrival of the King, the one looked for and hoped for since the days of Adam and Eve.  Had they lingered, that door would have been forever closed to them.  So it is with salvation.  It arrives at a time appointed by God and there is no guarantee that the door will forever remain open.  To receive the call itself is the opportunity of a lifetime and the wise individual jumps on the invitation without hesitation. 

 

Jesus added to that truth by informing the Jews that no man cometh to God unless the Father draws that person.  If the Father does not make the invitation and the will and ability to respond, access is denied.  Later, prior to being lifted up on the cross of Calvary to pay the price for the sins of the world Jesus spoke the greatest invitational words in print when he said “and I, if I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all men unto me.”  Changing hats from the title of the Son and “going to the Father” he has exclusive drawing rights.  So when you feel that tug on your heart, a pull only produced by God himself, don’t delay!  Open up your heart to the call and accept the invitation because it may come only once in a lifetime, and it’s very likely, it wont be on or at your time.