Come
Key Passage: Isaiah 1:18
Date: June 7, 2024
Good morning, everybody. Good to be in the House of the Lord. It is a little nerve-wracking being up here, so the pastor gave me three minutes. I got it to three and a half. So I want to give two testimonies. They’re kind of tied together. You’ll see the point, hopefully.
First mine, I grew up in a family where we went to church every Sunday morning. We went Sunday school and Sunday morning service. That was about it. I had God tugging at my heart at an early age, probably about, well, 12 or 13, and I resisted because I had a flawed thinking that you had to come down front to get saved. And, you know, I was a shy kid, still kind of shy, and I told God, I was like, there’s got to be another way. I’m not going down front. So the devil used that to kind of embarrass me and put fear in my heart, and as years went by, I never would come down front. And as a teenager, I kind of rebelled and got away from God.
Well, fast forward several years later. I’m married. We have our kid, our youngest daughter. She was about one. And God used my love of reading to reach my heart. And one of the books I was reading was not very biblically correct—I learned later on—but the plan of salvation was. And I remember it scared me. I didn’t want to go to hell. So I remember getting down beside the bed and praying and accepting Jesus as my Savior.
Well, years later, tied to it, I heard my granddad’s testimony, and it was at his funeral. The man who preached my granddad’s funeral was a very good friend of his. He was our high school girls’ basketball coach, and he was also a preacher. He’s a very good friend of my granddad’s, and my grandparents were in assisted living at the time, and they called Coach Tohill, woke him up in the middle of the night, and he was worried. He called him Mr. Cecil. He’s like, “What’s wrong, Mr. Cecil?”
Well, he goes, “You’ve got to come down here. You’ve got to come down here.” He could hear my grandmother in the background, you know, tell him, tell him, tell him. And so Coach Tohill was like, “What is wrong?” And my granddad goes, “I don’t think I’m saved.” And so Coach Tohill got his Bible, went down to the nursing home, and they settled it. My granddad got saved.
And I say that because it was a year before my granddad died. My granddad died when he was 97 years old. He spent his entire life in church. And I say that because God never gives up on us. He always gives us a second chance. And I say that because, more unlikely, there’s a good chance that there’s somebody sitting in here today that does not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Don’t be fearful to come up front. We will all rejoice with you. So thank you very much. Thank you.
And praise the Lord. By the way, I appreciate them singing. That’s very special. Years ago, Brother Fontaine taught John to play the guitar. And now they’re singing together. And praise the Lord for that. And in fact, that was Brother Larry Rosalowski, one of his favorite songs. And you know he’d be here if he could. He’ll be watching online. But praise the Lord for that.
Isaiah chapter number one. And I wanted just for a little while to talk with or preach at our graduates. And I’m joking when I say preach at. So the rest of you, you can just go to sleep like normal. I mean, just a normal Sunday since I’m just talking to the graduates, you know. And I heard somebody—they may not have said it out loud, but I think inside they said, “Well, dismiss us so we can go eat then,” you know, if you’re going to preach to the graduates.
But I believe it’ll be applicable. Trying to say those fancy words, that never works right for me, you know. To all of us, it’ll apply to you. But I do want to talk to our graduates a little bit this morning. And really, this one word: come. No matter where our graduates end up at, no matter where in the world you end up at, no matter how wealthy or poor you end up, no matter how wealthy or known and famous or nobody knows about you, whether you end up having no kids or 10 kids—just her brother Cal back there groaned a little bit when I said 10 kids—wherever you’re at, whatever happens in your life, the Lord will be saying this to you. He’ll be saying, “Come over here to me.” He’ll always be saying that, always.
And we’re just going to look at three. There are several times in the Bible that God says come. We’re just going to look at three of them this morning. It’ll be true for, I believe, the vast, vast majority. But I want to just really talk to our graduates a little bit. And would you listen in there? Would you humor me and not think about the fried chicken that you’re going to have after service today, all right?
But Isaiah chapter number one and one verse, verse number 18. Would you please stand? I had to respect the Word of God as we read it together. By the way, wonderful to have our buses running again and have some of our folks ride the buses back in church with us. We’re glad to have you and praise the Lord for you being in church today.
Isaiah 1, look in verse number 18, if you would. I love that first word. Would you read the first word out with me? “Come.” By the way, that’s the Lord speaking. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
Would you pray as I pray and ask the Lord to do a work in our hearts this morning? Would you do so? Father Lord, I do ask—this is a, I know, a little bit of a far, a big request, if you would, Lord—but you could do it. Lord, I do pray for our graduates specifically and others. Would you let them just remember just the main part of the message, Lord? That you’re calling out to them to come. Father, as long as they live here, Lord, would you help them to remember that? And Lord, at key times, Father, would you send your Spirit reminding them of that? Would you just drive it real deep in our hearts, Lord, please? And we’ll thank you for what you do, Lord. We love you. It’s in Jesus’ name we ask these things. Amen.
Thank you so much for standing. You may be seated. God here is speaking to the children of Israel. Actually, they were backslidden during this time. God was warning them through this prophet that judgment, that captivity, was coming. They’re sinful people. But even with them being sinful people, they were still God’s people. By the way, in our day and time, Israel is a backslidden people, but they’re still God’s people. Amen.
By the way, I’m thankful for a president that’s been good to Israel, God’s chosen people. And a good way to get God’s blessing is to be good to Israel, you know. But the nation of Israel’s backslidden, and God was warning them and saying, “Hey, my judgment is about to come.” By the way, they did not get right, and his judgment did come. This book covers all that and the captivity, whatnot.
But even while they’re backslidden, they’re God’s chosen people. Now that means, or that represents, if you will, if you’re saved—if there was a time in your life that you put all your faith in Jesus Christ to pay for your sins, you do not depend on yourselves to get you to heaven; you depended on Jesus to get you to heaven. You asked, you trusted in him to save you. You’re saved. That means you’re God’s people. You’re one of God’s chosen, if you will.
Now here’s the thing. You will, like all of us do, you’ll backslide from time to time. I hate to think about it, but some of our graduates may backslide. I don’t wish for that. I’m not suggesting that. It would break my heart. But really, backsliding is just sliding back from where you were, and the Lord’s closest to him. We all do that from time to time.
But here’s the thing, here’s the thing: while this nation, while God’s people was sliding away and they were not what God wanted them to be, when they were not the reputation, the testimony that God wanted them to be to the rest of the world and to represent Jehovah God, and when they weren’t all that, still in the midst of that, God said under them, “Come.”
It’s amazing to me that he said, “Come now. Let us reason together.” I mean, we’re so much of a pawn, if you will—you understand how I’m using that term in comparison to God. Now, he loves you. He’s got a picture of you in his wallet, if you will. I’m not trying to make you seem insignificant, but I’m talking about our ways and our faults and how mighty we are in comparison to God is so minute. But with that going on, God being so great and us being so small, in the midst of that, God says, “Come over here, backslidden, you’re my people, but you’re far from what I want you to be. But I want you to come to me.”
And he says, “Let us reason together.” It’s amazing that a God that knows everything, inhabits eternity. He says, when you’re back, “Come over here, I won’t reason with you.” That’s amazing. Why would God stoop to reason with a person like me, especially when I’ve backslidden?
But can I say this to our graduates and to every person here: no matter how far you slide back and where you’re at, it may be even if you end up in a prison cell—I was teasing one of our bus people who got out of jail, “Man, I’m glad you got out of jail, you’re back in church today,” you know? And I was teasing, but even if you do end up in a prison cell and you’re one of God’s people, he loves you very much, but you’ve broke the heart of God and you’ve been a poor testimony of the Lord. And maybe there in that jail cell, you’re just saying, “My goodness, I can’t believe I’m here. I never intended to wake up here.” And yet in that jail cell, the Spirit of God will reach down there and say, “Come over here. You’re my child. You’re my son. You’re my daughter. Come over here. Come, come. Let us reason together.”
I’m not talking about when you’re everything you ought to be. I’m not talking about when you’re just being the Christian God. I’m talking about when you’re not reading your Bible. I’m talking about when you’ve not been in church. I’m talking about when it’s not like it used to be. You love to come to church, and it’s not like you, man, I’m getting something out of my bottom. It’s not like it used to be, and you come and hear preaching, and man, God speaks to your heart, and you’d cry, and you’d want to get right, you’d come to the altar. It’s not like that anymore. You’re just cold, and you don’t enjoy it, and you don’t have a burden for the lost to reach somebody like you used to, and you don’t dream about doing something for God anymore. You’re just cold-hearted, and yet when you’re there, in the midst of all that, God still says, “Come over here. Come over here. Let’s talk.”
I’m amazed how God is so merciful for me. I’m just like you. I backslide. Man, I’m so far from what I want to be for the Lord. And if the truth be known, when we’re there, we’re not reading our Bible. We’re not loving church. We’re not having a burden for the lost. We’re not making a difference for the Lord. The honest truth is, in our heart of hearts, when the music’s turned off and the cell phones are put up and we’re just kind of alone with ourselves, we’ve got no joy. We’re miserable, and we’re just cold-hearted. The honest truth is, when we’re there, more often than not, we just despise preaching. It irritates us because we’re far from what we ought to be.
But can I say this, when we’re there, you have an appetite for sin when you’re there. You say because you’re so to the flesh, you reap of the flesh, and you just have an appetite for worldly things, and you’ve lost your desire for God. And when you’re there, and you have an appetite for more sin, and that appetite has grown in your life when you’re there, and God—yes, he hates that sin—but even in the midst of that, God looks down.
Graduate, can I say if you’re ever there, wherever you’re at, whatever’s going on in your life, God will reach out at that time and he’ll say, “I want you. Come to me.” Satan will tell you that God says, “Hey, stay away from me. I don’t like you anymore.” God’s not like that. In the midst of their backslidden time, God said, “Come.”
I’m amazed how God, over my lifetime, when I’ve been a poor Christian and not where I ought to be, God’s reached out to this old boy and said, “Hey, come over here, Paul. I provided the way back through the cross of the shed blood of my Son. Come, come.” I’m so thankful I have a God that says, “Come.”
The boy had been arrested for murder. It’s a sad time. His mom that loved him, she went to him. She said, “Son, son, are you guilty? Did you do it?” And the son said, “No, Mom, I didn’t do it. I didn’t do it.” He went to trial. He was convicted. And again, the mom went and said, “Hey, son, now did you do that? Are you guilty?” “No, ma’am, I did not do that. I’m not guilty. Mama didn’t do it.”
And in fact, the day came, he was to go to the electric chair. They let the chaplain in. And just moments before his life was going to be gone as far as here, and this earth, the chaplain ran down there and talked to him and said, “Do you have anything?” And he said, “Chaplain, I want you go tell my mom. I want you to run. Get to my mom before I’m gone. I want you go tell my mom I did it.”
The chaplain ran. They thought, “What’s he going to say? What are you going to do?” And he ran to the mom outside. They were not allowed in, just the chaplain briefly. And he ran out. And he ran out to where the mom was—his mom. He wanted me to tell you he’s guilty. He did it. The mom said this: “Chaplain, I want you to run back, and I want you to tell my boy, even though you did it, I still love you.”
Friend, even when we’re far from what we ought to be, and the honest truth is we’re guilty before God, God Almighty sends his Spirit up and His Word to you and says, “Hey, come! Now let us reason together.” It’s amazing. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow,” or the red light, like crimson, they shall be as wool. Come. I love the “comes” of the Bible. Graduate, no matter where you go, what’s going on in your life, there will always be the call of God, the tender mercies of God saying, “Come, come.” He’s always there.
Can I say this in our dealings with other people? I was saying someone, “Yes, I’ve been visiting the last two Saturdays, and they’ve not came back, and there are issues and whatnot.” I thought, “I’m going to leave alone for a week.” I mean, after a while they start seeing the preacher pull up, they just pull the shutters and everything. They lock the door, you know. We’re not there yet, so I thought, “Well, I’ll give them a break for one Saturday,” you know. But I thought, “I’m not going to give up on them because God didn’t give up on me.” I’m so glad I have a God that says, “Come.”
Friend, no matter where you end up at, if you’re in a hospital bed, God will still be saying, “Come. Come.” Dr. George Truett, years gone by, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas—and it’s still there today, the church—had a little boy in his church, just a little boy, he was just young. Got saved at a young age. He had heard the gospel repeatedly at the church there. And he had heard about Jesus loving him, dying on the cross. And I love it, just a child’s heart, got faith. And that little child heard about that, and he put his faith in Jesus Christ to save him, take him to heaven. Little boy, just seven or so years old, got saved.
Dad didn’t go to church. In fact, the story was that the boy’s dad drank all the time. I’m not sure about the accident; I don’t know the details of it, but they say that little boy was accidentally shot. He was in the hospital. It looked like he was nearing the end. Dad knew he needed to visit the son, but he didn’t want to visit. He just had so much guilt. He was a drunk. So George W. Truett went to the hospital with the dad to visit that little boy. George W. Truett would tell the story that they’d walk in that room. The boy, you knew the doctors had said he’s going to be gone pretty soon. The dad didn’t want to get close to that boy because the dad knew what a miserable father he had been.
George W. Truett said that boy said, “Dad, won’t you come over here, Dad?” He said the dad went; he didn’t know what to think. And he got close to the little boy. George W. Truett said that little boy did his best to put his arms around his dad. And that’s what he said. He said, “Daddy, I want you to remember this: I loved you even if you did get drunk all the time.”
Friend, I’m not advocating us going into sin, being backslidden, but I want you to know, even when you’re backslidden, God is still saying, “Come.” Come. No matter where you’re at, what’s going on in your life, the Lord says, “Come now. Let us reason together.” I’m glad to have a God that says, “Come.”
Let’s look at another passage where the Bible talks about come. Look over Matthew chapter 11. Matthew chapter 11. And a very familiar verse, you’ll know it, Matthew 11, verse number 28. Jesus is speaking here. God’s Word: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He invites the weary. You’re just plain tired. God, to those that are just wore out.
It may be the busyness of life. I think about some of our high school graduates: if you go to college and maybe you work a job, at least part-time or whatever, and man, you’re just busy with tests and labs and all the rest of that, and man, you’re working all the time and you’re trying to keep everything going at one time, and you feel like you’re juggling things, you know? And that’ll just wear on you after a while, and you just get weary. And I’m saying to the weary of life, those that are just a little weary, I’m so glad Jesus says, “Come.”
This busyness of life can just wear you down, or you just feel bogged down, and you feel like you’re always walking in mud, you know, and you just can’t hardly lift your legs out of it like that, you know, and you’re just worn out and weary. And yet when you feel like that, you’re just weary with life. God says… Have you just been weary of problems? You just feel like every—there are a problem here, problem there. When all the problems get out of here, you know, you want to go on vacation and take a vacation from your problems, and there are problems on vacation. Anybody have been there? You look at your car, there are problems; the house, there are problems; kids, there’s a whole lot of problems, you know. There’s problems with the dog, problems with the cats. Everybody look—the bills, you know, look at there, there’s a whole lot of problems right there with all the bills coming in, you know. Just problems, problems, problems. You’re not careful, you just feel like, man, all these problems. Life will do that to you.
You’re just weary with all the problems of life. I’m talking about relationship problems, and it seems like no peace on any side of your life. You just feel overwhelmed. And in the midst of that, Jesus has come. “Come.” I like the way he wrote it. He said, “Come to me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden.” I believe it is making a difference in… Often we bring the problems on ourselves. I mean, and often it’s really our fault we’re there. And then sometimes we’ve got no part of it. We’re just heavy laden; it’s just laid on us—life, and maybe cancer, and whatever problem. But wherever you’re happening, maybe it is your fault or maybe it’s just been laid on you, but to both categories, Jesus said, “Come.” I’m so glad that Jesus says, “Come.”
Maybe it’s the heartache of life. Maybe you’ve lost those people you love so much. How many of our older people here, is it true? The older you get, the sweeter heaven gets. After a while, you just feel like you’re no more on the other side than you do over here. And boy, if you’re not careful, you just start thinking about the past and those people in both. After a while, you just feel like your heart hurts, man, all these… all these.
But maybe it’s a different—not losing a loved one, maybe it’s past wounds that are coming back to haunt you. You have to deal with those, and you have to focus on those, and you have to get some closure and some healing so I can move on beyond. I don’t know, but maybe just heartaches of life. And if you’re not careful, all those say, just, man, I’m always dealing with problems in my life. I’ve dealt with people that have abuse in the past, and sometimes they just say, “Man, I’m so weary of always being triggered and everything affecting me like it’s just, I’m a weird person, and I wish I could get out of this thing, and I’m just weary of all of it.”
Can I say this? Jesus comes to you and he says, “Hey, come into me. I got rest for you.” No matter how you’re weary and life’s just got you burdened down. Maybe it’s health issues. It’s one thing to deal with health issues. We’re speaking in tongues at our church. Amen, you know. Elmer Fudd, “That’s all, folks,” you know. Some of you remember those days. That’s back of the day, you know. But health issues is one thing to have it for a week or two, but anybody have health issues over the weeks and months and even years? That’d have to weary you. I mean, it’s bad enough to have something for a month. I’m tired of being sick for a month; it gets to me. But some of you deal with it over the years. And, friend, it can weary you. By the way, physical sickness affects your spirit. It’s hard to read your Bible and be intense about your prayer life when you’re just hurting. Now, by the grace of God, you can still walk with God, but it’s a whole lot tougher.
But you just get weary with all the health issues and the long haul of it. When are it going to get better? Am I ever going to get out of this problem? Am I going to get cured of this disease? And, God, I’m just weary after a while. You’re sick and tired of being sick and tired. Can I say Jesus says to those folks, “Come unto me. I’ll give you rest.” I’m glad when life just wearies you.
How many of maybe this COVID thing and you’re just weary of all the—I don’t know whether to put my hand out and shake or not or wear a mask or not or go there or not. And I’m not supposed to do this. How many just get weary of all these sayings? And I just, I want life to be normal again. Can I say when you’re weary, Jesus says, “Come, come”? I guarantee you, probably every one of these graduates already been there before. There’s going to be times you’re just weary. Relationship problems can really weary you. And yet when you’re just worn out, you’re just tired. Depression can do that to you. You say, “I don’t know why. I just don’t want to get up every morning,” even though I’ve got to put in sleep. It’s just weary. In the midst of that, Jesus says, “Come.” Oh, I’m so glad I get to serve a Jesus when I’m weary and worn out. He says, “Come. I got rest waiting for you.”
“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” I think about a little lady. She was in a nursing home north side of Chicago. It was a larger nursing home. I remember right—it’s three floors, I believe. She lived on the third floor, four wings on every floor. She lived in the corner of one of those wings, just kind of forgotten by the world. Her husband was a pastor for years, but he’d been in heaven for years. Her children, all her children were in heaven. She was kind of, if you will, by this world forgotten about.
Myself and some other preacher boys in Bible college, we’d have the privilege to go to that nursing home and preach, and we loved to go visit her in her room. She’d often—you’d find her in a wheelchair, sitting in a wheelchair. She’d have an Afghan or old quilt kind of draped over her legs in the wheelchair. Her hands were all just in her lap. She was in a lot of pain. But she had learned that when you’re weary, Jesus has “Come,” and “I got rest for you.” That’s preacher boys; we looked forward to it. We wanted to get up. We’d call her Granny. Her name was Viola. We’d call her either one. We looked forward to going to that room. She was just a sweet, godly lady.
In the midst of the pain and forgotten about by the world, she had learned that Jesus is always saying, “Come.” We’d go in that room, and she’s just so loving, sweet, and kind to us, preacher boys. We loved to go in there and just talk with her. She’d tell us how God’s been good to her, and how God’s taken care of her, and how God had used her and her husband over the years. And she just—it seemed like, not always, but it seemed like when she was well enough to come to the service—we’d have a church service in the day room—and when she was well enough, somebody would wheel her down in a wheelchair. It probably wasn’t—probably exaggerating unless you haven’t preacher boys’ minds—but it really did just seem like when they would wheel her into the room, she’d come in there, just seemed like the room got brighter. She just seemed to have a glow of God about her. Yet it wasn’t that she didn’t have problems. People she loved and knew they’re all in heaven. She just was forgotten about in this wing of the nursing home there, living in constant pain. But she had learned that Jesus has always seen “Come.” She’s such a restful lady. We had come, and she just kind of got peace because she was a peaceful lady. She had learned that Jesus had rest for the weary. Come. I’m so glad Jesus says, “Come.”
Would you look with me one more time, one more passage when Jesus has “Come”? Would you look over in your Bible? It’s Revelation, the last book of the Bible, the last chapter of the Bible, and the last verse of the Bible—no, I’m joking about the last verse. But it is the last book, the last chapter, all right? Right towards the end of the Bible. It’s God’s revelation to mankind, amen? Somebody said, “Did you get a revelation from God?” Preacher, sure did. It’s called the Bible, amen? Well, God gave me revelation. Friend, if it goes against God’s Word, that ain’t from the Lord. He’s not going to contradict his Bible. And God’s revelation to mankind here, and right towards the end of this thing, God gives a “Come.” I want you to see it. Revelation 22, and look in verse number 17. If you’re there, would you say, “Amen”?
Good deal. If you’re falling asleep, look at your neighbor, just push them over. Just go ahead and push them all the way over. They’re falling asleep. Brother Fontaine, I was worried. You put your arm around, and I thought he’s going to push her, you know, but he’s going to push her, you know. Glad you put your arm around. I’m not going to push her, you know. She actually wasn’t—I mean, she was awake, so we’re good there, you know. But Revelation 22, if you would, look in verse number 17. Revelation 22, verse number 17. Notice what it says here: “And the Spirit”—that’s capital S, I believe you’re speaking here, the Holy Spirit—“and the Spirit, that’s God, Spirit of God, God, and God, and the Spirit and the bride”—who’s the bride? That’s the saved folk. Those are born again. They make up the bride of Christ, the church. One day, by the day, he’s going to come back for his bride, and we’re going to be called out of here. Might be real soon, by the way. All the signs are there for sure.
But the Spirit, that’s God speaking, his voice, and the bride, that’s the church. We ought to be telling people how to get saved. We’re trying to say there, one thing: the Spirit and the bride say, what’s the next word? “Come.” Come. “Let him that heareth say”—what’s the next word? Somebody gets to say what’s the greatest thing they can learn to do? One of the greatest things for sure: tell somebody else about Jesus. That woman at the well, man, she got saved. She went in town and said, “Hey, come over here. Come see this guy. He told me everything that ever happened to me.” Actually, she wasn’t 100% right in what she said, but she tried to tell somebody about Jesus. She got people saved. The 12 Baptist preachers are over there eating; she’s getting people saved, you know. That’s what it’s talking about. The Spirit says, “Come.” The bride says, “Come.” And let him that heareth say, “Come.” And let him that is athirst, “Come.”
Man, you’re just thirsty. You just need some value of life. You’re just disillusioned. You don’t know what it’s all about. He should come. Watch this. “And whosoever will.” It doesn’t say whosoever can. It says whosoever will. By there will be some—there’ll be some that say, “Well, there’s a certain amount of people that can get saved, those that God chose.” No, it didn’t say whosoever can. It said, “Whosoever will.” It’s not a matter of you can come. You can come because of Jesus Christ. It’s a matter of whosoever will. That’s the problem right there. It’s not a matter you can’t come. He said, “If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me.” He is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, the Bible says. Not a matter of whosoever can; it’s a matter of whosoever will.
Look at that last part there: “Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.” Now, all along I’ve been saying God will always say, “Come” to you. But can I inject something here? That’s not always true for every individual on this planet, always. As far as salvation, God says, “Would you come get saved?”
But the Spirit of God, if he comes—notice that—the Spirit and the bride. And the Spirit just comes, “Come, come, come, come, come.” You need to get saved, “Come, come, come, come, come.” You can’t come, and the Spirit just says, “Come, come, come, come.” And after a while, you get to the point where you just say, “No, no, no, no, no,” and you blaspheme the Spirit of God. Your Spirit of God will say, “Okay,” and you’ll never hear that “Come” again. It’ll be over. It’s not that you could not get saved. It’s a matter of you will not come because the Spirit will not say “Come” anymore. You’re born from above, friend. There must be the Spirit drawing you.
And a lost person that is not saved that just rejects, rejects, rejects, rejects, rejects, can get to the point where the Spirit of God says, “No, I will not always strive with man.” And for that person that will not get saved and they’ve rejected one too many times, they’ll never, ever again hear that “Come.” What a sad thing.
The “comes” of God are so special. When I’m backslid—and we’ve all been there—when we’re not what we ought to be, God Almighty, he reaches down when you’re—sometimes we’re just a pathetic Christian. Yet God still says, “Come. Come now, let us reason together. I can make you whiter than snow,” Psalm 51 says.
And sometimes when just life has got you so weary, you’re just worn out, you’re just tired of everything, Jesus says, “Come, I got some rest for you over here.” Then, friend, every individual has heard the “Come” of God at salvation. He said, “What about people in another country? They don’t have the gospel as clear.” Well, they hear the “Come” just from creation. By the way, the more they take the light, the more light God gives them. More they listen to that “Come,” the louder the “Come” gets, if you will. The clearer it becomes.
I always think when I tell this, and I don’t want to say it, but I always think of our missionary Michael Williams that I can’t remember what country in Africa. And he said there was a section or tribe, if you will, up on a lake up there. He said, “I was always burdened about going there.” And before he left that part of the world—he’s here in the States—he said, “I took a trip up there,” and he said, “I was amazed when there’s an older man.” He said, “I used to, before I remember the story, climb up in a tree and say, ‘Hey, Lord, God, whoever you are, I want to know the truth.’” And it wasn’t a coincidence that all those years God had been burdening his heart about going up there. That man had heard the “Come” and he had responded to the “Come.” God said, “All right, I’ll make it clear to you how to come.” See, he had heard the “Come” of creation and he accepted it, and God gave him more light.
But it’s a sad thing when someone just says, “No, no, no, no, no.” God finally says, “Okay,” and they’re not here to “Come” anymore. John Rice used to talk about as a boy, he had a friend in school. They were having a revival in a school auditorium. By the way, wouldn’t that be wonderful to have revivals in school auditoriums again? That’s where America used to be.
They had revival in a school auditorium, and his friend in school, her older brother wasn’t saved, and they were burdened about him. She was praying for him, and her older brother came. She was so excited he came, and the preacher preached, and God was moving, and the Spirit was saying, “Come” to that boy. And when he left that girl—she went back. Brother John Rice said it was a big burly man. She went back to her big burly brother. And John Rice said she put her hands on his shoulders. She began to cry. See, she was saved. She was part of the bride of Christ. She began to cry. And she said, “Charlie, you know I love you, and won’t you go to heaven? Won’t you get saved? Won’t you come get saved?”
John Rice said he watched. Said, “Big old burly brother.” Said, “Not now. Leave me alone. Don’t bother me. I’m not ready.” John Rice said, finally, he watched as that brother took her arms and pushed him away, and it just seemed like the Spirit of God never convicted me again. As far as he knows, that young man died, went to hell. If anybody dies and goes to hell, they’ll have to push away the “Come” of God. I’m so thankful he says, “Come.” Graduate, no matter where you’re at, you’re saved, you’ll always—you’ll always have God saying… He’ll always be saying that.
Would you bow your heads and close your eyes, please? Our heads are bowed, eyes are closed. You’re there and you say, “Preacher, I’m not where I used to be, not where I want to be. Maybe not slid back far, but I’m not where I want to be. But I’m glad I hear the voice of God saying, ‘Come.’ I’m so thankful. And I’m going to take heed to that this morning. I can hear that voice speaking in my heart, ‘Come,’ and I’m so thankful for that.” That’s you with your heads bowed and eyes closed. “Preacher, I hear the voice, ‘Come.’ God’s spoken to my heart about that.” That’s you this morning. Would you lift your hand up? God bless you, friend. Me too. I’ve been hearing that voice all week. All week. “Come. Come.” I’m not where I want to be, but I feel that voice and I hear it. I sure like to get there. “Come.” Anybody else? “Preacher, that’s me. I just feel like the Lord’s speaking to me. I won’t get back close to him.” Anybody just slip it up? Anybody, “I need to come. I hear that voice.” God bless you. God bless you. Good, good, good. Anybody else? “I hear that voice.” God bless you. God bless you. What’s wonderful. God bless you. Thank you so very, very much. Thank you so very much for that. Let the Lord work in your heart.
Maybe you hear this morning, and you say, “Preacher, I’m just weary. Life just made me weary, just burdened, hurt, weary. Yet I’ve heard Jesus speak to me this morning. He’s saying, ‘Come. Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,’ and I hear that voice of ‘Come.’ I’m weary, but I hear that voice. Now I’m going to go to Jesus and get the rest.” God spoke to my heart about that. “I just feel weary, but I’m so thankful in the midst of my weariness, I hear Jesus saying, ‘Come.’” One of that, you just slip your hand up. “That’s me right there, preacher. That’s me.” God bless you. God bless you. Oh, I understand. God bless you. Anybody else? “Preacher, just feel weary.” Maybe something I mentioned, maybe something I did not mention. “I just feel weary. Yet I hear the voice of Jesus saying, ‘Come.’” Anybody else? Just slip it up. Anybody else? “Preacher, I hear that.” God bless you. God bless you. Oh, it’s good. Anybody else? “I’m just weary and just tired, but I hear that voice.” God bless you. God bless you. I see that. Anybody else? Anybody else? “Preacher, I’m just tired. I’m burdened. And yet I hear Jesus’ voice saying, ‘Come.’” Anybody else? Anybody else? Anybody else? One more. One more. Anybody that, “Preacher, God spoke to my heart. I hear that voice.” God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. That’s wonderful. Thank you so much. You can put your hands down.
Maybe you hear this morning, maybe you’re watching online, but you say, “As far as salvation, I’ve heard that voice say, ‘Come,’ but I’ve never heeded that. There’s never been a moment in time when I knew I was born again where I settled this thing.” “Preacher, I’ve heard the voice, but I’ve never responded. But the good thing is I heard that voice again. I need to get my salvation settled. I need to settle this thing going to heaven.” “Preacher, I’m not settled on it, but I heard the voice, the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come’ this morning as far as salvation.” God spoke to my heart about that. Wherever you may be, God spoke to my heart. “I hear that voice saying, ‘I need to come.’ It’s salvation.” If that’s you this morning, will you slip your hand up? “Preacher, I hear that voice. I need to get this salvation thing settled.” “I hear that voice, ‘Come.’” Anybody? Would you just slip it up? Anybody, just lift your hand up. “Preacher, I hear that voice. I need to get this thing settled. I need to get it saved.” Anybody just lift it up, just lift it up. “I hear the voice, ‘Come.’” Wherever you may be, maybe you’re online listening, maybe you’re here in the auditorium, here there, and you say, “Man, I know I’m a sinner. I understand there’s a penalty, death and hell. I believe Jesus died on the cross and rose again, and I want to get to him right now.” Jesus, I want to take you that water of life. You want to go to Jesus right down and ask him to be your Savior right there where you’re at, wherever you’re online or here in the seat.
Would you just bow your head and your heart? Would you ask Jesus? “Oh, dear Jesus, I’m coming to you right now. Thank you for so many times you came and said, ‘Come and drink of the water of life.’ Now, I’m coming right now. Thank you for your shed blood. Thank you for providing salvation. I ask for it right now. Would you save me? Thank you, Jesus. Thank you for giving me the water of life. Give me salvation.” In Jesus’ name.
If you’re online, you’re watching, you just asked Jesus Christ to be your Savior, at the bottom of the YouTube description there, would you check that box? Let us know. We’ll send you a free Bible. We’re so glad you got saved. We want to welcome you to the family of God.
Hey, Christian, I’m so glad you’ll always hear his voice saying, “Come. Come.” Would you just spend a little time with your Savior this morning? Let’s all stand, if you would, please. We’re going to have a word of prayer. Then our instruments will play. Would you just come and spend some time with him? If you’ve heard his voice, maybe you raised your hand, would you come just spend some time with the Lord? You can do it in your seats there. Maybe you feel uncomfortable coming to an altar. We understand that. If you like to come to an old-fashioned altar, a great place when you hear that voice, “Come,” just get close to him. Oh, it’s wonderful when you hear that voice, “Come.” Would you pray and come?
Lord, thank you. I don’t deserve it. It seemed like a million plus times I backslid, and you’ve said, “Come. Let’s reason together.” Thank you for being so good to me like that. All of us. Thank you, Lord, and I’m weary, just weary of life and problems. Thank you, Jesus said, “Come. I got rest for you.” And bless these ones that are not saved. Let them hear the voice, Lord. Let them come. Drink of the water of life. Work in your invitation, Father, please. And Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
We won’t be long. If God spoke to your heart, would you come as they play? Would you come spend some time with the Lord? Would you do so? Maybe one day, maybe one day you’ll be in a hospital bed somewhere and just weary and tired, and maybe the Holy Spirit will come and say, “Hey, remember that message? He said, ‘Come unto ye that labor and are heavy laden, I will give you rest.’” He’s got the rest you need. Rest beyond physical rest. It’s rest into your souls. The next verse. I’m so thankful. He says, “Come.” Let’s don’t ever get used to having a God so good. You know, don’t get where you just kind of take it well for granted. We’ve got a wonderful God, and he always sings “Come.” And if we’re not careful, we’ll just kind of get used to that. Let’s be grateful for a God like that. And let’s make sure—let’s honor these graduates. And I didn’t think this through. In fact, I just thought of it, but I would like it… Tell you what, could I get the graduates, those four graduates, maybe to come out in the lobby? You don’t have to shake their hand if you don’t want to. They might not want that. Maybe just come by. They’re like, “Yeah, preacher, what are you doing to us?” You can get us all. Say, maybe just come by and just tell them you love them. You’ll be praying for them, and it’s a special day for them. We want to make it that way. Can I get those four graduates? Now, if you offer them a $20 bill, they’re not going to turn it down. Now, you know that. And they’re back there now. They weren’t going to come. Now they’re back there. They’re there for sure. I’m joking. Come by and let them know you love them, you’ll be praying for them. That’d be wonderful. So glad to have more and more of our folks coming back. Praise the Lord. It’s just wonderful. Thank you. I know some of you want to be here and you’re working on online. We’re glad you’re there, looking forward to you getting back in here when you can. It’s just great to see everybody out today. Praise the Lord for you. Brother Jim Shank, would you dismiss with a word of prayer, please, sir?
Original File: Come - Pastor Paul Chisgar Sunday AM 53120