PP0920 DATE March 30, 2008
COME UNTO ME!
Matthew 11:28-30
Mt 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (KJV)
INTRODUCTION: This one Scripture alone could answer all the problems in the world. It would solve the failures in the life of every person who turns back from following God. Coming to the Lord will bring victory in any person’s life. This is the loving Saviour speaking to each of us present today – He beckons us to “Come” to Him.
“Come” – means to leave what you are doing and start doing what the Lord bids you to do. “Take my yoke upon you…..” We then begin doing His work.
“Come” - is an invitation – it is used nearly 3000 times in the Bible and nearly always it refers to an invitation. “Go” is a command – such as “Go into all the world” – but “come” is an invitation.
An invitation for rest. Freedom from all the cares of the world that surround a person who is trying to live for Christ.
“Come” - has a reward with it. By coming we receive all the Lord offers.
“Come” – indicates a move toward the Lord. You are coming to where He is – or where He wants you to be.
“Come” - there is no stipulation as to who can come. Anyone may come. The wealthy, the poor, the famous, the peasant.
This passage has several pictures attached to it. I want to present these to you today. You follow with me as we examine these scriptures.
I. IT SPEAKS OF SALVATION
“Come unto me…”
“Me” is Christ Jesus – the Son of God. The same person that said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life….”
Joh 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (KJV) Oh! What a comforting verse…..
The Lord invites each person to come to Him for salvation.
“Come” is for any person who wants to be saved. There is no limitation on who can be saved. “Whosoever believeth on Him shall be saved.”
“Come” is inclusive. It includes any and all who will come.
“Come” is conclusive. He is the Author and finisher of our faith.
“Come” is exclusive - It rules out any other method of salvation other than in Christ Jesus.
“Come unto me” includes you if you accept – it rules you out if you reject – there is no other One to go to for salvation.
Salvation is eternal life for all believers.
You can probably remember when you were carrying your load of sin – there was no relief – no place to lay the burden down. Jesus so tenderly calls for all to “come” for cleansing – “come” and be made whole.
This is so basic that it almost seems useless to say it again, but our command is to tell it over and over again.
A. Salvation Is In Jesus Christ Only.
Most religious organizations add something to this truth.
1. Many add baptism.
2. Many add some other type of works or requirement.
a. Join their church.
b. Follow their creed.
c. Live according to their rules.
This kind of doctrine will spell doom and damnation for any and all those who take part in it.
B. Repentance Toward God And Faith In Jesus Christ.
Paul proclaimed this – John the Apostle proclaimed this – Matthew, Mark, and Luke proclaimed this. Today, I stand before you and proclaim that salvation is by “Coming to Jesus Christ and Him only”. To attempt salvation from any other manner will bring about your eternal punishment.
It speaks of Salvation.
II. IT SPEAKS TO THE HOME
We look at homes in the church and think that a certain home is solid and doing great in the matter of following the Bible and The Lord, but then something happens and that home is broken. We have an average of about one home every year breaking up. That doesn’t happen over night – when it does happen it is the culmination of a much longer destructive path. That means that there may well be a home right now that is in the process of falling apart. That’s why I say today, “Come to the Lord Jesus with all that you are and that you have.”
The home is to be a picture of heaven. Most homes are hell on earth. The reason for that is that most homes don’t follow Bible teaching given for the home. I talked about this at some length recently on a Sunday night.
I am talking about Christian homes as well as secular. God will bless any home that functions according to biblical principals. The majority of all homes are dysfunctional according to the Bible. When all three aspects of the home, the father, the mother, and the children are following their roles the home will be a happy home. Life in the home will be much like life in heaven. So a broken home is the result of one of these three neglecting their role in the home, or trying to take on the role of one of the others. No home will be right until the Lord Jesus Christ is the center of that home. Not financial matters, not some sports event every night, not the beauty of nor the style of home – but is Jesus Christ preeminent in your home.
If your home is not functioning then this invitation is especially for you. “Come” He has the solution.
Every person here has many memories about their home. Home was a place of comfort, security, rest, learning, and enjoyment. Your home life may not have been perfect, but it does have some memories that are dear to you in some manner.
I remember in growing up – on a Saturday night, after baths were over, mom would make a big plate of chocolate fudge with walnuts in it and she would pop a lot of popcorn and make popcorn balls – we would feast on that and listen to the “Grand Ole Opry” until bedtime. Great memories of the home. It couldn’t get any better than that. Our home did not have electricity – it did not have indoor plumbing – our bed rooms didn’t even have doors on them. Let me tell you about my bedroom. My bedroom was a corner of our living room with a home-made bed frame. My mom made it out of old lumber and springs from an old car seat. It didn’t have a mattress – my mom made a mattress out of dried leaves she picked up in the yard. You talk about having a great time – think about when my friends came to spend the night with me. I am not talking about four or five years old – I am talking about high school age.
Your home doesn’t need that latest “Mathis Brothers” look.
III. IT SPEAKS OF THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN
A. The Christian In Service For The Lord.
Not only the home applies here, but also every Christian. If you have worked very long for the Lord, you have experienced the load and the heaviness that can happen. Sometimes it is hard to bear. Sometimes it seems that everyone is in opposition to what the Lord wants done. There are times when no one understands the will and the way of the Lord. It seems like that when God gives me an avenue of travel or service, someone else has already decided to do that same thing only in a different manner than what the Lord wanted me to do, and that can bring confusion, and grief.
That’s when He whispers in our ear - Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
B. The Christian Who May Be Burdened Down With Sin.
So much of the time preachers paint the picture of the Lord as One who is strict, demanding, and maybe even impatient. That is true in some instances, but when it comes to love and forgiveness He is longsuffering and full of grace.
Each time a Christian sins the kingdom of God is hindered. The work of God will carry a mark of reproach, but also each time that Christian comes to the Lord, He will forgive, and cleanse. I have walked that path and roadway to forgiveness hundreds of times. Some days it seems like I just look for ways and places I can commit sin. Then when the Spirit of God convicts my heart, I “Come” unto Him and He always gives me rest. He restores me to the fold of the pasture. He takes His gentle hand and sprinkles me with the cleansing blood and sets me back on the pathway following Him. He does that same thing for you also.
Just because a person bears the name of “Christian” doesn’t mean that things are “hunky dory”. Behind that Sunday Morning smile may be many sorrows and trials that no one knows about but the Lord and the individual.
Most all people are carrying problems of some matter. Those problems will get heavier and heavier as long as they carry them. The only way to relieve the load is to give the burdens to the Lord.
Put the Glass Down
A professor was giving a lecture to his students on stress management. He raised a glass of water and asked the audience, "How heavy do you think this glass of water is?"
(Give the glass to a choir member)
The student’s answers varied.
He replied, "It does not matter on the absolute weight. It depends on how long you hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it is OK. If I hold it for an hour, I will have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you will have to call an ambulance. It is the exact same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."
"If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, we will not be able to carry on, the burden becoming increasingly heavier."
"What you have to do is to put the glass down, rest for a while before holding it up again."
(Take the glass back)
We have to put down the burden periodically, so that we can be refreshed and are able to carry on. So before you go to bed tonight, put the burden of day down. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you are having now on your shoulders, let them down for a moment if you can. Pick them up again later when you have rested... And you will have renewed strength and vision to bare them or solve them... There is a season for everything - A time to give it your best... and a time to rest.
IV. IT SPEAKS OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
John the Revelator, after having experienced all the events in the Book of Revelation and then seeing the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven as a bride adorned for her husband, penned these words, “Even so come Lord Jesus.”
When Jesus taught the Disciples of His 2nd Coming he used the phrase, “I will come again…” Today’s Baptists have heard this so much until we have immuned ourselves to the teaching. I want each of you to realize – you are close to the coming of Christ. If somehow we could see into the realm of eternity we could see out there somewhere the Lord in His descent from heaven – I believe He has already begun what must be done before His coming….
What Will Happen At His Coming?
A. “The Dead In Christ Will Rise.” I Thess. 4:16-17.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (KJV)
There are those who would have us believe that Christ has already come. If so, where are the empty graves. The graves will open and those who have gone on before us will come out of the grave. This has not yet happened.
B. “Then We Which Are Alive.”
There will be some alive when He comes again.
1. Are you part of the “WE”?
2. Only those who can qualify to be part of the “WE” that Paul talks about here can be included in this event.
He means “WE” that have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. “WE” who have had our sins forgiven. “WE” who have obtained the righteousness of Christ through believing.
This does not mean “WE” the human race.
It does not mean “WE” that are Americans; nor does it mean “WE” who have been baptized.
It means only the saved. Are you saved? Have your been made righteous by the blood of the Lamb? If so, there must have been a particular time when you came to Christ in repentance and asking for mercy for your soul.
There is nothing in this passage that speaks of the unsaved. Do you know why? Because after this event takes place there will be no more period of grace. Any person that has refused to proclaim Christ as Savior will be forever and forever lost and without Christ. No one will have an excuse.
Recently, my wife and I read Psalms 98 for our daily devotion time. Look at it with me.
Psalms 98
Ps 98:1 O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. (His right hand speaks of Jesus Christ)
2 The LORD hath made known his salvation: (How did He do that?) his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. The righteousness of God has been made known to all generations.
3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. (No one will have an excuse – because it has been made known to all the ends of the earth.)
4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. (KJV)
Vs. 4 is admonishing us to make praise because we have been made righteous by His Son, Jesus Christ. 2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (KJV)
That Vs. was true in Psa. 98. It was true in Gen. 15:6 when righteousness was imputed to Abraham because he believed. The only way anyone can ever be made righteous is through the shed blood of the Lamb of God.
C. “Which Are Alive.”
1. The Christians that are alive when He comes again. Not saved and unsaved together. Just the saved.
D. “Shall Be Caught Up Together With Them In The Clouds.”
1. “Them” is the dead in Christ that we see in Vs. 16.
2. Saints that are alive and saints that are dead will be reunited in the air with Jesus.
E. “To Meet The Lord In The Air.”
If you don’t know Christ as Savior then you will be left behind to go through the Great Tribulation, and then after 1000 years you will stand before the throne of God and will be judged for your sins and be cast into the lake of fire forever.
F. “And So Shall We Ever Be With The Lord.” Once this call to “Come up hither” happens, we will never leave His presence. We will be changed to His likeness and we will be in the blessed presence of Him forever and forever.
Re 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. (KJV)
If you are saved, and remain alive long enough, you will be in this group of Christians in Rev. 4:1.
“Come” speaks of the 2nd Coming of Christ.
V. IT SPEAKS FOR ALL ETERNITY
How does a person explain eternity – you really can’t because no one has ever experienced.
There is no time limit on the promise. Once a person comes to Jesus Christ, he will be with Him for ever and for ever.
When a person answers the call to “Come” to salvation he/she is making a decision that will last for all eternity.
How long is eternity? No one knows - because no one has ever experienced eternity.
Ge 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (KJV) We all know that this verse is speaking of the beginning of time. Prior to this was eternity past. There was never a beginning of eternity past – eternity past leads to eternity present – eternity present leads to eternity future – eternity future will lead to nothing beyond that. Once we are in eternity it will always be eternity present. We live in what is known as “TIME”. God created time – had He not created time there would be nothing but eternity.
Isa 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, ……….(KJV)
Eternity is a limitless past and a limitless future. The only part of eternity that has boundaries is eternity present or TIME, which began in Genesis 1:1 and will end with the closure of the Millennium reign.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’ve first begun.
Ten thousand years will be like a fleeting second or a mil-a-second.
What a day – what a day – what a day that will be.
