“And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” (John 5:40)
Which is more proper, that the student seek the Master and attend to Him where He is, or for the Master to go to where the student is playing in the field?
How many open the Word of God with the intent of seeking the face of God, for what His will is in their life? How many look, as the servant should for the Master, the Lord Jesus Christ on every page, and how many may not do so only out of an obligation, a feeling that they are to open the Holy Book, but instead for a form of personal advantage, to gain something for themselves?
We may go to Him when He calls, but we do not remain by His side after the task has been accomplished, we may perform the duties set before us with vigor, and even love, but the continuous contemplation of His Word leaves us as we go back out into the world.
“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” (John 6:67)
We are convicted, but only while we are being convicted, we answer the call, but then go back to the fields, the world and all our concerns within it, and wait to hear His call again.
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3)
This is the reason that many are called, but because they either will not heed the call, or the call needs to be repeated continuously, they will not stay by the Master’s side, the obligation is fulfilled, but their heart is far from Him.
It happens every Sunday morning all across this planet my friends. Perhaps a very few will attend that meeting during the week, the one they call a Bible study, and in those moments they may indeed be seeking Him, but the mind that serve Christ cannot be a temporary mind, it either seeks Him in all things, every moment, or it seeks Him not at all, or at best, only for the sake of self, for what they can receive from Him, not for who He is.
And do not be deceived here, it is not only the needs of the flesh they seek after, those daily needs and wants, but an emotionally uplifting moment, a continuation, for as long as it will last, of “being close to the Lord.” But then they go back out into the field to live life with rarely a thought about Him until another need arrives.
“Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.” (John 6:26)
For many, the Master has called once, and they have answered the call, they are truly born-again, they are the wheat among the tares, but the Lord Jesus Christ is not their all in all, He is loved in faith, He is served in obedience, but only when He calls. They do not continuously seek His face, it is not a diligent search for more of Christ, there is no continuous contemplation of His ways, the Holy Spirit is not quenched, but hindered by the cares of today and the fears of tomorrow.
Their prayers are for safety and security as they play in the field, as they move through this life, not “Thy will be done,” no matter the consequences to themselves. The initial call was answered, and that is enough. Their love is real, their faith is true, but the world still calls.
“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (John 15:11)
We will never attain to that fulness of joy in this life, but unless we submit ourselves to His will for us, unless we with a sincere heart desire to not just go to where the Master is and remain there, but to follow where He leads us, we will never grow as we should in the knowledge of His grace and love.
He will never leave us or forsake us, but we do, and that many times in this life.
