When people come to Jesus Christ, the very first thing they will discover is a deep, beautiful peace inside. They won’t be able to tell what the reason is for it, but they do know that they feel good. They are no longer running from God or fighting Him. Instead, they begin to really understand Him. The Lord invites us into His own rest in the vastness of His love, and then He comes and dwells with us (see Hebrews 4). Jesus said, “Come unto Me…and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). He associates our lack of rest with a lack of God. It is not until we know God that we’ll ever know what true rest is.
All our resistance, fears, stubbornness and contrariness could be avoided—if we’d simply come to Him in the first place.
We need to come in the proper way, depending on God instead of ourself. But the only way we can come is helpless, weak and dependent on Him. He said, “My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). All our resistance, fears, stubbornness and contrariness could be avoided—if we’d simply come to Him in the first place.
Little children thronged around Jesus, basking in the love and interest He showed to them. The disciples thought they were shielding Him when they told the parents not to bother the Lord with their children. But He told them to stop and let those little ones come to Him. He said to not forbid them, because of such is the kingdom of heaven. Then He laid His hands on the children and blessed them. Jesus was accessible to everyone, including little children. And we also need to come as a little child, be converted, and simply trust in Jesus. The only way we can become a child of God is through faith in Him.
A rich young ruler asked Jesus, “…what lack I yet?” He replied, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me” (Matthew 19:20-21). He basically meant, “If you want to be perfect, or complete, come follow Me. The rest is not as important.” We can’t have eternal life apart from following Jesus. He’ll always zero in on whatever it is in our life that keeps us from following Him. This young man’s riches were his god which kept him from following Jesus. Jesus told him “You cannot serve God and mammon, you can’t have two masters” (Mathew 6:24).
Does a false god control your life? Whatever it is, you’ve got to get rid of it and put the true God on the throne of your life.
Then Jesus said to him, “Come follow Me. Why did you call Me good? You said that because you recognize that I am God. There is only One good, and that’s God. Get rid of those false gods and follow Me, the true and living God.” Does a false god control your life? Whatever it is, you’ve got to get rid of it and put the true God on the throne of your life. You can’t choose your way—you have to come God’s way–the only way to a complete and eternal life. Apart from Him, there is no real life.
When God saves us, He does the impossible. We are not to forgot this. With man it is impossible. You can’t get a place in God’s kingdom by good works—you’ll never be good enough! That’s why Jesus had to come and save you, instead of Himself. We are not saved by His love, but by His grace—motivated by His love. Anyone who turns to Him, He will save.
Satan tells us that our life is a wreck, that we’re a failure and God wants nothing to do with us. He’ll say, “Why bother going to God?—there’s no way He’ll open the door for you. God will plant unbelief in your heart, and if you believe it, He won’t admit you.” But it will really be because we won’t come. Yet the Lord is always waiting with affection, gladness and open arms to receive all who will come to Him. This should encourage our troubled spirit! Satan has been telling us that God is not interested in us and doesn’t want us—that we aren’t worthy. But Jesus said, “All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me; and him that comes to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). What a wonderful word of encouragement Jesus gives to our timid souls.
He wants us to come to Him with every problem. “Come to Me and drink. I’ll fulfill every need in your life,” says Jesus—the only One who can truly help.
On His last day, Jesus cried “…If any man thirst let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37). This was not referring to physical or emotional thirst. Some try to hide their thirst by putting on a big front, saying, “I don’t have any problems; I’ve got it made. I don’t need any help—I can do it on my own.” But every person still has a deep down thirst for a meaningful relationship with God. When we cry out to Him to save us, faith declares, “God hears us when we cry.” He wants us to come to Him with every problem. “Come to Me and drink. I’ll fulfill every need in your life,” says Jesus—the only One who can truly help. He’ll not only quench your thirst, but will make your life become a cup overflowing. Simply cry out to Him and He’ll come to you.
Jesus will not answer by saying: “Do this or that,” but will say just three little words—”Come unto Me.” Are you searching for meaning in life? Who would you cry out to if death was at your door? “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). Come to Him for who He is. God’s Word will give you life, if you will come to Him. Have you come to Jesus yet? Why wait any longer? Now is the time to come!
[Additional image credits: Featured image (when applicable) by Tim Hüfner on Unsplash; Opening photo by Timothy Eberly from Unsplash]
