WHEN JESUS SAYS “COME” YOU’D BETTER GO!

Mark 1:17-18

 

 

When I was very young my dad taught me that when he or mom said, “Come, ” - I’d better go. And if the command was to jump…I asked: [how high?]

 

In the Word of God the word “Come” is used more than 3,000 times. When Jesus used the word “Come” He was inviting a person to come and join Him in a certain place or activity. Understand:  Jesus is already there. It requires faith to go and join Him.

 

When He says, “Go”, that is a command to go some place where Christ is not. An example is, “Go ye into all the world.” That requires dedication because we are launching into an unknown.  But to 'come' to where He already is - this should not be an uneasy thing to do.

 

Let’s look at seven different times where the Lord used the word “Come”, and what He is teaching in the usage of the word.

 

I.  COME INTO THE ARK – SALVATION Genesis 7:1

Gen 7:1  "And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation."

 

        A. The Ark Is A Type Of Salvation.

                1. God designed it. Gen. 6:14-22. By Noah following that design guaranteed total safety for him and his family.

 

                2. God designed salvation. 2 Tim 1:9  "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,"

 

                3. It only had one door. Gen 6:16  "A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof;”

 

The camel used the same door as the tiger.

The eagle used the same door as the bob cat.

The dog used the same door as the squirrel.

The cardinal used the same door as the cub!

The Ram used the same door as the Bengal!

 

There were no exits--only an entrance. This speaks of eternal security. Once a person enters the ark of salvation there are no exits.

 

                4. Jesus is the Door of salvation. John 10:9  "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."

                5. Noah acted upon God’s command. Gen 6:22  "Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he."

 

God's directions didn't make much sense, but Noah followed them anyway.  Common sense would tell him to do just about anything other than what he did in order to advance his life and prosper, but God knows better!

Luke 9:24  "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it."

 

                6. Man must act upon God’s invitation to salvation. John 3:16  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

 

        B. The Ark Was Safety For All Who Were In It. Gen 7:23  "And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark."

 

Gen 7:21  "And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:"

 

Are you in the Ark of Salvation? God said, “Come thou and all thy house into the ark.”  When He says, “Come and be saved” you had better go!

 

II. COME OUT – SEPARATION

2 Cor 6:17  "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,"

 

I am convinced, and scripturally so, that an non-separated Christian is a thorn in the brow of the Savior and this halts the work of God around that particular Christian.

 

        A. As Used Here, “Come” Is A Command.

My dad would say, “Jerry, come here.” That wasn’t an invitation. That was the “inspired and inerrant” 'word of dad' and I knew he was giving a command he expected me to follow.  It wasn't a suggestion.

 

        B. A Command Is Not Acted Upon At Our Convenience.

The Lord had instructed Paul to pen down the instructions concerning Christian Separation. This is not to be followed if we feel like it. Separation is to begin immediately after salvation. 2 Cor 5:17  "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."  You and I as believers have no authority to do as we please in our lifestyle and our daily walk for God.  We are bought with a price.  God owns us.  Hang a sign around your neck, "Under new management!"

ill.--the angry, mean, loud drill instructor tells the Marine, "Hey boy, you'll do what I tell you because your [bleep] is mine!"  And so I wonder, is it because God is so kind, loving, and patient that we don't respond to him with implicit obedience?  He's the captain of our souls, the Commander in Chief of the Christian army!

 

When Jesus says come out and be separate - you'd better go!

 

A non-separated church member is either shaming the name of Christ or revealing that he is not saved.

 

It is only natural that a “Born again” person, when shown in the Word of God what God expects from him, will act upon that authority. If he refuses, he has not had a 2 Cor. 5:17 experience. All that his/her religious actions are saying is: “I am a hypocrite.”

 

2 Tim 2:19  "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

 

Many attempt to fake spirituality.  Don’t attempt to fake separation, you can’t.  When Jesus says come out and be separate you'd better go!

 

III. COME AFTER ME – SOUL WINNING

Mark 1:17  "And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men."

 

When Jesus says, “Come after me,” you had better go.  Not just keepers of the aquarium, but fishers of men!  You catch 'em and He'll clean 'em!  When we fish for fish we take them out of a beautiful life to death.  When we fish for men we take them out of death to a beautiful life!

 

        A. Every Christian Should Be Burdened About Winning Souls

 

If every member of this church would get a taste of what soul winning is our auditorium wouldn’t be large enough for our nursery. If every member of this church would win one person to Christ and bring them to church by this time next year this room would be filled.

        B. There’s Wisdom in Soul Winning. Prov 11:30  "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise."

        C. There’s Glory in Soul Winning. Dan 12:3  "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."

        D. There’s Urgency in Soul Winning Jude 1:23  "And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."

        E. There’s Choosing in Soul Winning. You have to do it on purpose!  When Jesus says, “Come and fish” you'd better go.

 

Don’t raise you hand – how many have ever won a soul to Christ?  How long ago?

 

IV. COME AND FOLLOW ME – SACRIFICE

Mat 19:21  "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."

 

Go and sell!  Are you sold out for Jesus?  Is He Lord or not?  If He's not Lord OF all then He's not Lord AT all!  If Christ is worth anything then He's worth everything!

 

We Christians have not been promised a paradise on this earth, and we shouldn't be seeking to heap up our own kingdom.  Jesus instructed the rich young ruler to go liquidate all his assets and give all to the poor. That is a sacrifice.

Rom 12:1  "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

 

        A. A Sacrifice For Others.

1 Cor 10:24  "Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth."

Phil 2:4  "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."

Gal 6:2  "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."

 

I wish we could get this principle across to our whole church--The principle of sacrifice for others. What would happen if this was practiced by everyone? There would be a spirit develop among us that would take Christianity to this whole community. We would be unstoppable. Why don’t we do it? Why don’t we put others before ourselves? Let's go looking for someone who's carrying a burden and then take it from them and carry it for a while.

 

It would cost some time.

It would cost some money.

It would cost some energy.

        Oh! But the payoff would be so great.

 

        B. Sacrifice For Christ.

2 Tim 3:12  "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

1 Pet 5:10  "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you."

 

When Jesus says, “Come and sell out”, you had better go!

 

V. COME UNTO ME – SOLACE

Mat 11:28  "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

 

“Are we weak and heavy laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge,

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer;

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,

Thou will find a solace there.

 

Jesus says, “Come” to the bereaved.

He says “Come” to the depressed.

He says “Come” to the discouraged.

He says “Come” to the outcast.

He says “Come” to the weary.

If you have a burdened soul, He says to you, “Come”.

 

I have stood beside the casket of loved ones, and I have learned that Jesus Christ is the only One Who can comfort.

 

But some don't want consoled.  Some don't want to feel better.  Some think subconsciously that there's something noble about bearing their own burden.  We must allow the Lord to minister to us or it doesn't work.  And allow your brother to help you as well.  Jesus says come to me, and you'd better go!

 

VI.  COME DOWN – SURRENDER

Luke 19:5  "And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house."

 

Pride is a great temptation for me.  How about you?  Jesus says to come down.

 

A.     Come Down From Your Pedestal.

Some people are too high up in the tree for God to use them.

B.     Come Down From Your Throne.

Let the Lord be your king.

Take self off the throne.

No one can serve two masters.

God's throne is not a duplex!

 

C.    Some Christians Are Too Big For God To Use.

God would use all of us if we would allow Him to do so.  Some feel too important for God to use them - if it means lowering themselves.

 

God will use anyone that is useable.  Only ability needed is availability!  You need to Come Down and surrender yourself to the Lord.

 

VII. COME UP – SATISFACTION

Rev 4:1  "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither..."

 

What a day that will be; When my Jesus I shall see…

 

When the Lord says those words then the waiting will be over. Satisfaction begins.  No more cancer.  No more Covid.  No more heart attacks.  No more work!  No more bills! No more surprises and reversals.

 

Not everyone will hear the words, “Come Up”.

The unsaved won’t hear them.  The ear of the lost is not tuned to the heavenly channel.

 

Imagine the trumpet signaling for you to ascend up to ever be with the Lord!  When Jesus says come on that day, will you go?  Only if you first come to the ark of salvation.  And will those be the only two 'comes' you heed?  What about separation and sacrifice and surrender and soulwinning?