Called Forth

Like Lazarus, my soul was sealed away with no hope of release. I could do nothing. I could say nothing. My doom was sealed.

Then I heard that voice! Jesus spoke my name and said, “Jim, come forth!” He spoke those words to each of you too. “____________, Come forth!” (Put your name there)

The stone rolled away from my door, and I answered the call. When Jesus calls you by name, it’s time to move out and answer the call.

I can just imagine that the instant the lips of Jesus began to move, the life and spirit of Lazarus immediately entered into the body of Lazarus. The Giver of Life had given new life to that which was already dead.

Is it possible that Lazarus could have refused to come out? What if he had decided that he would rather stay in that tomb? The way that I have it figured Lazarus was more than happy to obey the command to come forth. He didn’t want to stay wrapped in grave clothes, lying on a cold stone slab, in a dark, damp grave. Anything was better than staying here.

Now whether or not Lazarus had that choice I don’t know, but I do know that every man who is dead in sin, sealed in a tomb of death forever, can have the opportunity to hear Jesus call them forth. The problem is that many refuse to come forth even when they hear him call. You can preach salvation forever, beg, plead and even frighten people but some just won’t budge from their door. They would rather stay all wrapped up, feeling comfortable in their cold, hard lifestyle, running from God. They love the deeds of darkness rather than to come to the light because they might have to give up being dead.

What an ignorant decision that is! What part of being dead and forever destined to the pits of hell can be so great as to choose that over life? The problem is that they are not only dead in sin, but Satan has them blinded to the light and to the truth.

Just surely as Lazarus was found, hand and foot, and his whole body, including his face wrapped with cloth so that he could not free himself, so is every man who is dead and sin.

When I was called forth, I carried a lot of wrappings with me. It wasn’t until after I came forth to answer the call, knelt down at an old fashioned altar, and then allowed Jesus to begin to unwrap the bonds of sin from my soul that I was set free.

John 8:36, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." After Jesus removed my bonds of death, unwrapped the sin from my heart, and lifted me out of the pit of sin that I was in, that’s when I became free. I am free now to worship him. I am free now to praise him. I am free now to serve him. I am free now to live eternally with him. I’m free; I’m free; I’m free!

Why would anyone want to go back to that grave again? Why would anyone ever see the wages of sin, which is death, as a greater value than the eternal life that Jesus gives? How can people turn their backs on God and go back to that state of eternal death? Oh how Satan doth blind the heart of people who turn from the ways of righteousness to go back to their grave once again!