“A right to Life; it can be Compelling”

Isaiah 49:7c the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

Have you ever been compelled to do something?  Being compelled is different than making a decision.  When you make a decision you think about what you will decide on.  When you are compelled you are caught up in the moment and you get swept up in whatever is going on.  It is almost like an involuntary act, it seems the only decision you can make is to break away from what is compelling you.  If you don’t break away you will be bound into an action you might enjoy or you might find that you should have broken away before the action took place. 

Have you ever been so excited that all reason goes away and you get so caught up in the moment that you didn’t see it coming? That could be good or it could be bad.  It depends on what you’re getting excited about.  Andrew and the other disciple of John the Baptist were dealing with that emotion as they got excited when they heard John say “Behold, the Lamb of God!”, and Jesus walked by and without hesitation or taking the time to reason things out, Andrew and the other disciple followed Jesus.

We get caught up in life’s events that happen in our lives all the time, some of these events could be good and some not so good.  I remember watching on television when the Beatles toured the U.S. for the first time.  I watched on the television all of these girls crying tears of excitement, jumping up and down in a frenzy, and then involuntarily passing out.  It was crazy to watch and I still don’t understand it, for me there is no other human that would make me do such a thing.  Really we are all just people with different talents and gifts given to us by God, distorted by man and exploited by the one who has the gift or talent.

Even now when I see people get all worked up over some band or actor/actress it continues to blow my mind.  We’ve made them legends in their own minds and in ours too.

            John 1:35–37 ³⁵The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, ³⁶and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” ³⁷The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

            I think that Andrew and the other disciple certainly were compelled to follow Jesus, but I don’t think they cried tears of excitement, jumped up and down in a frenzy, and then involuntarily passed out when Jesus walked by.  We get caught up in a lot of different things that turn us away from God too, and from His word.  In the heat of the moment a young couple gets caught up in the intimacy of each other and reason goes out the car window.  Excitement grows, passion takes over and compelling actions replace God’s given sound reasoning… 

A month goes by and a decision is forced upon the couple.  For some the choice is made due to the life style they wish to obtain…  A right to life; it can be compelling or it can be easily discarded.  For others the decision is made because they realize though conceived in sin one of God’s precious children will be brought into God’s world.  Still a God given gift, this child will be brought up by a forgiven mother and father in hopes that they will come together as one to raise this precious gift of God. 

            John 1:38–39 ³⁸Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” ³⁹He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

            Andrew and the other disciple of John the Baptist were compelled to follow Jesus, note that they were sinners too.  Though we might not know what their sin was the fact remains we are all sinners.  Jesus came to save sinners, which really translates that He came to save all people, because we are all sinners. What has been done cannot always be undone, but in all cases there is healing and a means to move forward.  So rather than condemning those who have sinned Jesus Christ chose to forgive us.

            John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

            John 8:7b “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

                If the one who is without sin doesn’t cast a stone, then why should we cast a stone?  If the one who died for our sins forgives us heals us from our sin, then why should we not be forgiving and helping one another too?  Christ is the gospel whose presence in our lives compels us to worship Him.  It is not through obligation that Christ died on the cross for our sins but through the great love of our Father in heaven, (John 3:16).  Our Lord Jesus Christ does not throw stones at us even when we throw stones at Him.  Our sinful nature throws stones every chance it gets, and each time we cast those stones at God, He forgives us in hopes that we will see that great love He has for us. 

When we see that love God has for us, especially when we know we had just cast a stone towards God because we sinned we are compelled to go to our knees, with tears of sorrow and repent.  And there standing right beside us is our Lord Jesus Christ with His out stretched arms and hands ready to embrace you and saying, Luke 7:48 “ your sins are forgiven”, and you feel the comfort of His embrace and the warmth of His love. He just asks us to believe, and we have all become believers through the regeneration of the Holy Spirit,

Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

He has made us His Children, 

John 1:12 ¹² But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

And, truly all of our sins are forgiven,

Mark 3:28 “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter,

            It is true, God gives us the promised eternal life and everlasting relationship with Him through His compelling love.  Amen.

 

By Pastor Curtis A. May

 

Go in His peace and serve the Lord