Lifted Up

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up. That whoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" John 3:14, 15. Being lifted up obviously means to be put on the cross and die for our sins.

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" John 12:32. This is a great promise but why do we change the meaning of "if I be lifted up from the earth" and misapply it. This obviously means to be lifted up (from the earth) on the cross and dies for our sins also. What did He say He would do? Draw all men unto me! He did not say He would draw a few, some, many but draw all men unto me. God said so! WOW, Wonder Of Wonders.

No man can come except he be drawn John 6:44. Will that "heathen" out in the middle of nowhere ever have a chance? Emphatically, yes. "I will draw all men." No one will be left out. Every person will be drawn, every person will have a chance. Doesn't that make sense?

What does that have to do with "Fishing for men ?" Everything. Our task is to get the gospel to every person Mark 16:15. We then just look for the ones God is drawing. If they do not respond, you and be sure God is not drawing them at that time and you did not fail. You obeyed God and gave them the gospel as we are all commanded to do.

Last week a lady came to our door handing out a leaflet. In return I handed her a gospel tract and said, "You will like this, it just tells you how to go to heaven." When I graciously ask if she knew she was going to heaven, she replied that she did not.

Carefully I told her how the Lord Jesus suffered and died for our sins, paid our debt in full and rose again. She said, "I never heard it like that." The sad truth is most people have not heard a clear presentation of the gospel. Gladly she bowed her head and prayed with me to receive the Lord Jesus as her Savior.

With her face beaming with joy she said, "God sent me to you today." WOW. That dear people is what it is all about. God will even send them to you if you ask Him to and He knows you will give the gospel when He sends them. Make sense? Of course.