“Yet you refuse”

“Yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” (John 5:40 ESV)

May I ask you a question? How did you come to In Messiah Ministries? Did you Google Jesus Christ, Salvation, or God? Did a friend tell you about the ministry and the daily messages? Did you meet one of the writers? However you came to this website, you have found that we preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We teach the Scriptures that tell us we can be saved by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ as the risen Son of God, and the repentance of our sins. All very true.

Jesus told us, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (6:27) This assures us of our salvation, and that we can never be taken from God once saved. Also important, Jesus said, “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) As such, we now know that God must enable us by grace to have faith in Christ, and in doing so Christ gives us His righteousness in our salvation. But what does that mean?

It means that God knows you and His plan for your life. At His appointed time, He will awaken you by the Holy Spirit. How? I cannot tell you how because everyone comes to Christ differently. Your salvation experience is unique, and yours alone. Without Christ, there is no salvation. Jesus told us this when He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (14:6) When we receive the gift of salvation, Christ lives in us, and we can have a living relationship with the one true living God, Yahweh, the Great I Am. With Jesus as our intermediary with God, we move forward in righteousness to a walk of Sanctification, our education of God, and our never-ending purging of sin until we stand glorified before God.

So, I will ask again, and I pray you will reflect on your answer. How did you get to In Messiah? Is there something in your heart that is making you seek information about Christ, who He is, and what He did? Is there emptiness within you because you do not know who you are or are supposed to be? Maybe you wonder why you are here, why you were born? Maybe you are in a period of trouble in your life and have nowhere else to turn, and have called out to God. If this is you, know that God is actively calling you to Himself, showing His love and patience. So, if God is calling you? Why then have you refused to come to Him so that you may have life? Not just life, but life eternal in heaven.

God’s call is subtle. Quiet yourself and ask Him if it is He who is calling you, “and tell Him, Your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10) While you will not receive the response young Samuel did, you are opening your heart to God.  If doubts or fears arise, remember that God patiently waits for you to respond with an open heart. Trust that He loves you and is ready to guide you into salvation through Christ, no matter who you are, what you have done, or where you are in your spiritual journey.

Seek Christ with an open heart and discover the life He offers. Your journey toward salvation is possible, and hope is within reach.

Grace and Peace.