'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 28

The words of John 6:37 reveal the purpose of the Father in giving his elect to Jesus Christ. The Father's purpose was that they might come to him and be saved. This, says the Son, shall indeed be done. Sin, Satan, the flesh, or the world shall never hinder their coming to Christ. The Lord Jesus positively determined to put forth such a sufficiency of grace, that it will effectually perform this promise, and use all the means necessary to accomplish this purpose. The Father's end will not be frustrated (John 6:39). By coming, we understand it to be the coming of the mind to him, and the moving of the heart towards him. It is a coming with the absolute desire to be justified and saved. There needs to be the sense of a lost condition to move him to come. This made the three thousand come; it made the jailer come; and indeed makes all others come effectually. Death is before them and they see it and feel it, and it feeds upon them, and will eat them quite up if they do not come to Jesus Christ. They come of necessity, being forced into it by the sense they have of their being utterly and everlastingly undone, if they do not find safety in him. 'Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest' (Matt. 11:28). This coming to Christ is a running to him, a flying to him from the wrath to come. When all refuge fails, and a man is made to see that there is nothing left in him but sin, death, and damnation, unless he flies to Christ for life; then he flies, and not until then. There is a sense of absolute need of Jesus Christ: 'Lord save me or I perish!' There is an honest and sincere forsaking of all for him: 'Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple' (Luke 14:26-27). He who truly comes, must forsake all, cast all behind his back and cling to Christ alone.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
John Bunyan, Works, I:246-248
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.