In the Spring of 1924, Jack Sundine was a four-year-old kid, standing in a line with his father inside the White House, waiting to meet President Calvin Coolidge. As they neared him, Jack noticed that he said something to each visitor as they shook hands. Soon, the thrilling moment arrived. Jack put his small hand into the President’s. Then the President said words Jack will always remember: “Move along.”
How would you respond or feel if when we come to God, He said “Move Along!” without any hesitation or warming response of love and grace? That would hurt, wouldn’t it? No intimate moment of desire to hear from you, let alone seeing you. Thank the good Lord, He is not that way. But just think, really think, if God was good one minute and evil the next. If His love, compassion, mercy and grace was conditional based solely on what efforts we do, actions you take, thoughts you think, words you speak; then in return He might give you affection, love every now and then, peace once in a while, all because He would not be the same today as He would be tomorrow. Thank the living God, He is not that way either. Throughout scripture friends, we see, hear and acknowledge a loving and forgiving God, who sees all, knows all, and most important, answers all to save, not condemn. He remains the same yesterday, now and forever. Amen. However, can we honestly say for ourselves, we are genuinely compassionate, thoughtful and Godly in our everyday journey, or do we also say at times “Move along?”
In the well-documented event that happened to a six year old boy, John Wesley, he had awakened in the family's old rectory to find it on fire from top to bottom. Everyone else had been dragged from the building, but by some extraordinary oversight he had been forgotten. At the very last moment, just before the roof fell in with a crash, a neighbor climbed on another's shoulders and pulled the terrified John Wesley from a window. Later that scene was drawn for Wesley, and he kept the picture until the day of his death. He wrote under it this verse in the third chapter of Zechariah: "Is not this a brand plucked from the burning?" Wesley's experience in being literally saved from fire was unusual, but all of God's people has experience it and maybe not really know it. Jesus Christ has come to rescue us from the fires of hell and eternal separation from the living God. We too are encouraged to do so for others. As Jude 23 reads, "save others snatching them out of the fire."
Just as God had snatched John Wesley from the clutches of death, so He also came to save each of us. He gives us something no one deserves, no one can measure up to, no one can ever repay. His loving grace.
As we start our journey today in the Gospel of John, Jesus just cleansed the temple in Jerusalem by turning over the tables, driving out the evils that had turned Gods house into a den of thieves. Then we start with chapter 3 where we read about a prominent Pharisee named Nicodemus, that not only catches our attention, but sort of surprises Jesus with his questions. Knowing only that his visit was to be in secret, he traveled by night to seek out Jesus, and then the conversation starts. Jesus responded and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Not diving to much into the conversation, Nicodemus wanted satisfaction; his spirit was yearning for understanding. He wanted to understand more and more of what this prophet from Nazareth was attempting to tell people, and knowing in his own mind, things in the leadership of the Sanhedrin was not quite right, he was seeking out another solution; yet he received a new term that mystified him, ‘born again,’ not just from another source, but from someone whom in Nicodemus’s own words, ‘who can do these signs that you do unless God is with him,’ meaning Jesus. Nicodemus was convinced, as others were too, Jesus’ life portraited God in everything He did. And it was this conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus that we see a picture of saving grace over condemnation that is unparallel amongst how the people of Jesus day, and even today, think of God and who He really is. Because you see friends, a righteous leader like Nicodemus, came humbly to our Lord, and simply asked the questions to get an answer. And from this simple conversation, we find God directly states the reason and purpose He came here to do. Please listen to this carefully with Godly ears, No one has ascended into heaven, except He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man [Jesus]. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes will have eternal life in Him. 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world [condemn], but so that the world might be saved through Him. Amen.
Right here friends, Jesus has made a clear and present declaration of what the purpose was for Gods only son to come to do. He came to Save, not condemn. Does that mean there will be no judgement, no pain, no suffering, no disease, no famine, no trials, no temptations? No, it means by God coming to save His people, He saved us by His Holy Spirit to work with us and in us, so that we may put on Christ while going through pain, suffering, trials, and tribulations. Jesus told Nicodemus, “Unless you are born again of water and spirit, you will not see the kingdom of God.” Simply put, we will NOT experience Gods saving grace, unless we are first ‘born again.’ Nicodemus did not fully understand what Jesus was saying; and that is totally ok. We don’t have to fully understand it all, we have to come to it with faith, just as what Nicodemus did by night.
There is a story I read about a women named Paula Webster who was raised in a Christian home, had been given a Christian education, and was settled down in what seemed to be a Christian marriage. She was active in her church, attended Bible conferences, and even had regular times of personal Bible study. She said that if anyone had asked her if she was a Christian, she would have said yes, immediately and emphatically.
Yet something was missing. She knew about God, heard all the messages, read all the materials in Church, but she sensed that she did not actually know him. She felt frustrated and unhappy, and as far as her own spiritual life was concerned, she knew she was getting nowhere.
As Paula studied the Bible, she was particularly attracted to David and Paul, because each man clearly had a heart for God. They knew about God. But in addition, they each loved him and wanted to obey him as an expression of that love. As she studied their lives she realized that something was wrong with her own heart, and she asked God to change her.
And God did! He taught her that she had never really trusted in Christ alone. She had never really submitted herself to God. Here, in her own words, is what happened:
"At that moment I surrendered my life entirely to God. I knew that he had heard me and accepted my surrender. I was conscious immediately that a great burden had been rolled away. I knew that I had been forgiven and cleansed. I knew that I had been changed. Peace, like a great calm following a storm at sea, and joy unspeakable filled my heart. I knew that the great war within had ceased. The sense that all had been made right replaced the agitation and restlessness I had felt only minutes before. I had finally been subdued and conquered by the Lord of Glory before whom I now gladly and gratefully bowed. And he no longer seemed distant or impersonal, nor I unclean and unsure before him. . . . I had been born again." What a testimony. Paula confessed that her privileges did not save her. It was only the new birth, expressed by faith alone in Christ alone by God’s grace alone that ultimately gave her peace with God. It is this new birth, which God has given to each of us by choice, that we experience Gods saving Grace, and not condemnation.
However, there is a flip side to the coin when it comes to our choices and how God looks at it. A person can actually be so far gone, that God himself turns them over to their own vile affections, their own evil devices, in which case is something none of us should ever experience. Listen to what Paul tells the people of Rome in his letter starting at the very first chapter.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and they exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible mankind, of birds, four-footed animals, and crawling creatures. 24 Therefore God gave them up to vile impurity in the lusts of their hearts, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for falsehood, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. Notice at the very beginning, “so that they are without excuse.” What does this mean? We can sabotage our own lives, our own Godly ways by not believing, not following, not honoring the almighty God, creator of heaven and earth. When our own hearts are corrupt, God simply says, “Have it your way then!”
Paul goes on to say, And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a depraved mind, to do those things that are not proper… and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only DO THE SAME, but also approve of those who practice them.
Friends, we do not have to look far to see how ungodly things that are in this world, but what I would like for you to focus on is something more important. No matter how evil things are, no matter what decisions we make that are sinful, God can and will forgive, God can and will save. That is what He sent His own son to do. Fulfill His laws, save His people, and to be in constant communication with His creation, us! Amen
In a little over a month from now, we will be celebrating, honoring and remembering the greatest story ever told, the redemption of mankind, through Gods only son, whom was nailed to the cross for our direct and sinful decisions; and those who call upon His name was all made clean, newed again, based solely on His will and desire for all us to be saved, and not condemned. And just like Nicodemus, we come to God by faith alone; we do not need to understand it all, we don’t have to wait until all the stars in the heavens line up, or see mighty miracles right before us to believe. We come to God by faith, and faith alone right now! And through that faith, God will sustain you, fulfill you, complete you, strengthen you, and just as Paula Webster stated earlier when she asked God to save her, “I knew that I had been forgiven and cleansed. I knew that I had been changed.” Its an instantaneous result from a genuine decision to follow, serve and obey the living God. We can’t earn salvation; we are saved by God’s grace when we have faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. All you have to do is believe you are a sinner, that Christ died for your sins, and ask His forgiveness. Then turn from your sins—that’s called repentance. 2 Corinthians tells us “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” Jesus Christ knows you and loves you. What matters to Him is the attitude of your heart, your honesty, your faith. Friends, we cannot wait, there is no guarantee for our next breathe, and while we are here now, today alive, scripture tells us, “Today is the day of salvation.”
I ask you at this time, to close your eyes, and open your heart. Ask God for give you, to cleans you, to make you new again. Repent, and be glad, knowing we are forgiven if we call upon the Name of the Lord. And pray with me this prayer.
“Dear God, I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died for my sin and that you raised Him to life. I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord, from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.”
In this prayer friends from an honest heart, God has heard your voice, for as scripture tells us The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous. Let today friends be a new day of saving Grace, in always knowing God hears your prayer of repentance. Join me this morning as one body in our prayer of yearning.