42 Come unto Me!

Come unto Me!

Man naturally is a poor restless creature. Like a bird wandering from its nest — he can find no lasting repose. He tries a number of things, as religious duties, vows, and reformation — but he is still uneasy and dissatisfied. In this state the gospel finds him, and presents Jesus to him. Jesus in the gospel speaks directly to his case, and says, "Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden — and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28. The Invitation. "Come unto me." WHO are invited?

Those who labor: Who are toiling to satisfy God’s law, the claims of conscience, and the cravings of the mind. All who are working to obtain inward satisfaction, mental enjoyment, and rest for the soul.

Those who are heavy laden: Burdened with a sense of guilt, with distressing cares, with grievous disappointments, and a variety of troubles. All who feel unhappy, dissatisfied, and hardened. No matter what is the cause, if a Savior is needed — here is a Savior provided, and the Savior himself invites the wretched and miserable to come to him. Nor are you to think that it is your labor, your burdens, or your weariness, that warrants you to come — for it is not; it is because Jesus invites you. It matters not how you feel, you may come — but the worse you feel, the more you have to urge you to come.

If your heart is as hard as iron,
if your heart is as cold as ice,
if your heart is corrupt beyond description
— you may come to Jesus, for all this.

Yes, for this very reason you ought to come. The worse you are, or the worse you feel — the more readily you should come. The more unfit you feel to come to Jesus — so much the more reason you have to come. If you need a Savior — come to Jesus. If you wish to be saved — come to Jesus. If you wish to be saved at once — come to Jesus at once, and he will save you immediately. The moment you cast yourself on his mercy, the moment you place your dependence on his blood, the moment you venture your soul on him — be you who you may, be you what you may — that moment you are saved! WHO is it that invites sinners to come unto him?

It is Jesus, the tender-hearted Savior.

Jesus, the sympathizing friend of the poor and miserable.

Jesus, who came from Heaven to earth on purpose to save sinners.

Jesus, who has a thorough knowledge of the sinners that he invites.

Jesus, who pities those who have no pity on themselves.

Jesus, who desires to make . . .
miserable sinners happy,
poor sinners rich,
polluted sinners holy, and
enslaved sinners free!

Jesus, who has all things in his hands and at his disposal, and therefore said, "All things are delivered unto me by my Father." As the apostle testified, "The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand." Who would be afraid to come to such a Savior? What greater encouragement can be given? Whoever will, let him come, and he shall be saved, saved freely — fully — instantly! To WHAT are sinners invited? To come to Jesus, to Jesus directly — not merely to hear the gospel, perform duties, or receive sacraments — but to come to personally to Jesus. Sinner, come to Jesus, to a person, not a religious service. Come to the one who sees you, hears you, sympathizes with you, and desires to do you good.

Come to his cross, and there see him suffering, bleeding, and dying for sinners, and for just such sinners as you! He died that sinners might live, might live forever, might live forever in unspeakable happiness and glory.

Come to his fullness, in which is stored up all blessings! Every blessing you can need, desire, or enjoy — is in the fullness of Jesus, and there you may obtain it without money or without price!

Come to his throne — his throne of grace, there he waits to receive you, to listen to your prayers, and to give you grace to help you in every time of need.

Come, O come to Jesus — and come just as you are, weary and heavy laden, poor and wretched, lost and ruined, cold and unfeeling, polluted and unworthy! Come to Jesus, and come without delay, he will receive you, save you, and make you happy forever. The Promise. "I will give you rest."

Immediate rest. Not rest after a long period of toil and labor, not rest after much suffering and sorrow, not rest at death only — but immediate rest.

Rest from that burden of guilt that lies so heavy on your conscience, and is likely to sink you lower than the grave.

Rest from that load of cares which distresses the soul, and makes even life a burden.

Rest from the vexation and grief, which dries up your spirits, exhausts your energies, and sinks your mind.

Jesus will give you repose, sweet and soul-refreshing repose. He will . . .
bear your burdens,
silence your fears, and
soothe your soul to rest.

He will give you satisfaction, not with yourself — but he will satisfy you of his love to you, and of your salvation by his merit and blood.

He will give you enjoyment, the sweetest enjoyment, so that you will feel almost as happy as an angel.

Come then, O come to Jesus . . .
if you wish to be delivered from your burdens,
if you wish to enjoy solid happiness,
if you desire to be saved with an everlasting salvation!

Come to Jesus, and come now! Do not wait for a more convenient time, or for a fitter frame — but just as you are at this moment — come, and everlasting life is yours!

Reader, Jesus has exactly what you need, all that you need — and he has it to part with, he is willing to give it to you! He calls you to him — to confer it upon you, and to make you comfortable and eternally blessed. Jesus wishes to make you happy. This is his object in giving this invitation. It will not enrich him — but it will enrich you. It will not be to his advantage — but it will be to yours. On his part — it is pure love, tender sympathy, and infinite mercy. It would gladden his loving heart to make you, a poor miserable sinner, happy.

Jesus lovingly invites you once more. Often has he called — and you have refused. Often has he sent his servants — and you would not listen to them. Once more, and it may be the last time, once more he says, "Come unto me — and I will give you rest." After all your ill treatment of him — after all the ingratitude you have shown to him — after all the evil things you have done against him — he once more calls after you as you are wandering in sin and misery, and says, "Come unto me, come now, come, notwithstanding all that is past — and I will give you rest!" Sinner, from the word of his grace, from the cross on which he suffered, from the throne of glory on which he reigns — Jesus calls you, lovingly he invites you, and says, "Come unto ME!"