The Invitations of God from The
Night Watches by John McDuff All that the Father gives me
will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive
away. John chapter 6 verse 37 Never! How broad is the door
of welcome! God, says a holy writer, is like
one on his knees with tears in his eyes and extreme fervor in
his soul, beseeching the sinner to be saved. He met the prodigal
son halfway. Before the ungrateful wanderer
could stammer forth through penitential tears the confession of his sins,
the arms of mercy were around him. The prodigal thought of
no more than the menial's place. The father had in readiness the
best robe and the fatted calf. There is no such argument, says
Reynolds, for our turning to God as His turning to us. He has the first word in the
overtures of mercy. He refuses none. He welcomes
all. The poor, the wretched, the blind,
the naked, the burdened, the heavy laden, the hardened sinner,
the aged sinner, the daring sinner, The dying sinner. All are invited
to come. Come now and let us reason together. The most parched tongue that
lapses streams from the smitten rock has everlasting life. When we forgive, it costs us
an effort. When God forgives, it is His
delight. from the battlements of heaven
he is calling after us. Turn, turn! Why will you die? He seems to wonder if sinners
have pleasure in their own death. He declares, I have none. Reader, have you yet closed with
the gospel's free invitations? Have you gone just as you are,
with all the raggedness of nature's garments, standing in your own
nothingness, feeling that you are insolvent, that you have
nothing to pay, already a bankrupt and the debt always increasing?
Have you taken hold of that blessed assurance? He is able to save
unto the uttermost. Are you resting your eternal
all on Him, who has done all and suffered all for you, leaving
you without money and without price, a free, full, unconditional
offer of a great salvation? Say not that your sins are too
many, the crimson dye too deep. It is because you are a great
sinner and have great sins that you need a great Savior, of whom
I am the chief, is a golden postscript to the faithful saying. Do not
dishonor God by casting doubts on His ability or willingness.
If your sins are heinous, you will be all the more an amazing
monument of grace. You may be the weakest and unworthiest
of vessels, but remember, there was a niche in the temple for
both the great and for the small, for the vessels of cups as well
as for the vessels of flagons. Yes, and the smallest vessel
glorifies Christ. Arise then, call upon your God. We cannot say with the King of
Nineveh who can tell if God will turn. He is turning now, importunately
pleading and declaring on his own immutable word that he will
never cast out. though you have lived among the
pots. You shall be as the wings of a dove, covered with silver,
and her feathers yellow gold. Close without delay with these
precious invitations, that so looking up to a reconciled God
and Father in heaven, you may even this night say, I will lie
down and sleep in peace. For you alone, O Lord, make me
dwell in safety. Psalm 4 verse 8.