If any man thirst, let him come unto me Jn7:37 There is no simpler message in the bible: If you thirst, Come unto me. Come to Jesus. My friend told me a beautiful story about a Jewish girl who has been relegated to a wheelchair all her life coming out of surgery last week and having a vision. She saw a man in the vision and asked him if he was Jesus. The man replied yes. She asked him if she should join Jews for Jesus and he responded by saying no “I want you to come to me” Then the vision ended. “I want YOU to come to Jesus, not an organization, not an institution, not a religion, simply come to him. These words, “I want you to come to me” is playing in my spirit over and over again. St. Paul in first Corinthians asks a basic question, “Is Christ divided?” One says I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? (1Cor1:12-13) When all is said and done, only Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Practice your religion any where you like but the message Jesus gave this Jewish girl is simply come to him. Are you thirsty like this crippled girl? Maybe you are not in a wheelchair, but maybe you thirst nonetheless. Maybe like this Jewish girl who was fascinated by the sacred heart of Jesus some twenty years ago, you will ask the question she did? “Are you Jesus? You may not get a vision but you may have heard the gospel many times and never asked this question, “Is what you purport to be true? Are you really the son of God?” Are you asking me to come to you?” Not join an organization, not join a particular denomination, simply come to him. That is all Jesus is asking any of us. So I am asking you, will you come to Jesus? Will you forsake the world, will you forsake your pride, will you forsake your religion, will you forsake your doubts and come unto him? Has the world left you dry and thirsty? Are you hungry for something more? Do you want to experience God? If you do, if you have ears to hear, simply say yes. Simply ask Jesus into your heart and follow him. His blood will cleanse you, through his generosity you will receive the Holy Spirit, in his mercy you will never thirst again. No matter what the trial, no matter what the test, with him you can do all things, with him eternal life, with him love, peace, and joy. I have had my share of struggles in my life. Some were very serious and threatening. Yet because I had Jesus we have weathered the storms together. I do not regret anything I have had to endure knowing that God was always with me seeing me through. So I am not telling you if you come to him that all will be easy. What I am telling you is that there is no other way to eternal life and when you have weathered all the storms, Jesus will bring you to the Father and you will share in the glory of God. “I want you to come to me” There is no simpler message than that. amen |