Coming To Him

Coming to Him

Read: John 6:35-41

“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

Matthew 7:22-23

“Whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”

John 6:37

“Christianity is not a religion but a relationship of love expressed toward God and men.”

—Sherwood Eliot Wirt

IN WORD Clearly, many people come to Jesus with a false security that they are His servants. His words to them in Matthew 7 are sobering and chilling, especially for those of us who know that, in spite of our intentions, we can often be insincere in our faith.

On the other hand, some of the most comforting words Jesus ever spoke are found in John 6. He will never drive away those who come to Him, and it is the Father’s will that “everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life” (v. 40). What is the difference?

The difference is that those who are cast away from Him were performers. They came to Him on the basis of their deeds—that’s all they appeal to, isn’t it?—and not on the basis of faith in His deeds. Perhaps they came to the Christian religion or to the church; but they didn’t come to Him.

IN DEED Those who are genuinely His are those who came to Him. They invested all of their hopes in His work, His faithfulness, His teaching, His fellowship, and His death and resurrection. There is an intimacy implied here that the “Lord, Lord” people do not have. There has been a true partaking of the Bread of Life—a willingness to ingest His very person and nature so that it becomes the life of the believer. Impressive works can never do that.

Are you subconsciously trying to impress Jesus? Don’t. Eat of His bread and be nourished by His presence. It’s the substance of genuine life.