Be Honest

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” (6:44 ESV)

There is a universality to sin that crosses all human boundaries. Sin is an extensively all-encompassing attribute of humanity. We are unable to repair our sinful nature, and God knew this from the beginning. By no means should we think that sin, an all-encompassing trait, the most potent, addictive attribute of humanity, is equal to the power of God over humanity. Sin is not.

We are never in the right relationship with God unless we have come to know Him. My next words will cause many people anger, hatred, and fear. Not everyone will come to know God. I say this not based on my own opinion or feelings but on the concept of God's election. God has chosen, or “elected,” those whom He will call to Him. Our verse today, the words of Jesus, tells just this fact, and it is not the only piece of scripture that tells us this fact.

In 1 Corinthians 1:18, Paul tells us that the gospel to the godless is folly. One who has not been called, who has not had the scales of the world removed from their eyes and ears, will not hear the gospel. Even worse, they will, sometimes violently, reject it. I know people like this, and many of you may also know people like this.

Many churches exist on islands, self-isolated from the world. There is little to no outreach or evangelism. Is it possible to be a true Christian who has received and accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ and remains silent in response to it? Of course, this is a rhetorical question, one that I have no answer to, nor have I taken a deep scriptural look for an answer. Mark wrote the words of Jesus on the great commission, “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (16:15)

We have been called to make disciples of our brothers and sisters, but we cannot do this when we hide behind the doors of a church building. Do you love Jesus? Do you love Him truly and treasure him duly? (John Piper). Is he the center on which you focus your life?

We have a new child come into our lives—a son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter—and we will not stop speaking about them. We talk so much about them that we become annoying to others, yet we choose not to talk about the child born in Bethlehem—the Son of God—the child who became man, went to a tree, and sacrificed His life in an act of penal substitution so that your sins and mine could be forgiven. On this child, we remain silent.

If Jesus is these things to you, then take a step forward and open your mouth. You cannot love Him intensely and deeply without sharing that love and the news of His mercy and grace with others; you simply cannot. Make 2025 your year of evangelism, your year to share the good news of the finished work of Christ. Every time you open your mouth, a seed is planted; if we all planted these seeds, we would be unable to see the forest for the trees.

Your words could be those that are revealed to a hidden child of God, one of God’s elect, one who does not yet know Him. Why would you deny anyone this great gift?

Grace and Peace!