A number of years ago, there was an old German farmer by the name of Klein. He was an ungodly man. Although he lived across the street from the building used by an evangelical church, he never went in; and, of course, he did not believe the gospel. To his way of thinking the gospel was for other people, not for him.
One day, however, the Bible school of the church began to teach the Bible school children the chorus of the hymn which goes:
"Grace! ‘tis a charming sound, harmonious to the ear;
Heav’n with the echo shall resound, And all the earth shall hear.
Saved by grace alone! This is all my plea:
Jesus died for all mankind, And Jesus died for me."
From his listening post across the street Mr. Klein heard the children sing. He heard most of the words clearly. But when they came to the line “Jesus died for all mankind,” he thought they were singing “Jesus died for old man Klein, and Jesus died for me.” The thought that Jesus died for him personally finally sank into his heart. Klein crossed the street to the church, attended services, and eventually committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ.
To the best of my understanding, that is a true story. However, even if it were not, it contains a glorious truth. That truth is that Jesus died for you, and invites you to come to Him. What does that mean? It means, quite simply, to place your trust in Him; to have faith in Him.
There are those who seem to think that this kind of faith is some sort of "leap in the dark". Nothing could be further from the truth. The great Baptist preacher of a former generation, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, wrote: "Faith is not a blind thing; for faith begins with knowledge. It is not a speculative thing; for faith believes facts of which it is sure. It is not an unpractical, dreamy thing; for faith trusts, and stakes its destiny upon the truth of revelation. . . . Faith is believing that Christ is what He is said to be, and that He will do what He has promised to do, and then to expect this of Him." (All of Grace, pps 46, 47).
Of course, you may consider that you are not good enough! Join the club! Not one of us is. The truth of the matter is that it is because you are not good enough, that you need to come! Jesus, Himself, said: "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:17). However, He also said: "... him who comes to Me I will not cast out." (John 6:37).
Who, according to this text, may come to Jesus? The answer: anybody. How may they come? In any way. When may they come? The answer is: at any time. How can it be more universal? The first half of that verse is written in the abstract: "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me;" This is the part of Christ’s sentence that deals with election. It is plural, designating a great number. It is abstract, for we do not know who those who are called by God are. The second half of the verse, however, is both singular in number and personal—"him." It is Jesus’ way of saying "you," whoever you may be, and however and whenever you may come.
The offer is there - for you! However, it may not be there for long. There is a Day coming - and many believe that it is coming very soon, when, "... the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God." (I Thess 4:16). After that, it will be too late! Come to Him, today. Your eternal destiny is at stake!
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