Listen, Learn and Come

(7-31-05)

John 6:32-40

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Chasing the wind, from one end of our short lives to the other we are consumed by what ever is the focus of our attention, by what ever has captured our _________. Take a moment and reflect back upon your lives, what was the diving force of your life at 5, 10, 15 and so on? As parents we drag our children through an endless cycle of business.

Jesus’ passion, his driving force, the focus of his energies and attention was the will of his Father. No not his step father Joseph, his true biological father – God. Jesus speaks of this to the Jews saying – "For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me." (Jn.6:38) Even at 12 years of age he was being drawn by the heart call of his Father. (see Luke 2:41-52)

Each of us over the span of our lives develop interests in a multitude of things that capture our hearts and minds. What happens when a persons hearts and mind is taken captive by something? The actions of that person begin to reflect the inner change of focus.

Notice what Jesus says in John 6:40 - "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." ‘Looks’ and ‘Believes’ are two good verbs that show us the heart and mind being capture. (being liberated might be more true) Jesus shows us a little more about the inner workings of this process by explaining – "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me." (John 6:44-45) Here we see that there is an active outside force at work, the ‘hey you, Look over hear!’ thing. Jesus says that it is the "Father drawing" the person, whom ever it may be, to Jesus.

God uses many voices to call people to Jesus. Sometimes it is the voice of tragedy, sometimes the voice of prosperity, sometimes the voice guilt or shame and sometimes the voice of a man or woman who is being used by God. What matters is God’s calling requires ‘listening’, ‘learning’ and ‘coming’.

Jesus lived his whole life with purpose and he changed the world. What Jesus did mattered because it was part of a larger picture. Jesus didn’t just chase the wind, he commanded it and it obeyed him. When his friend died and was laid in the tomb, four days later Jesus new there was a larger purpose at work than another poor soul perishing as we all shall do. And Jesus raised his voice and called Lazarus from the grave, and he obeyed.

I say all this because you too are called by Jesus! Called from the dark, cold, tomb of your life to step forth into the light and glory and warmth of the Son of God. There is a larger picture unfolding here that as of yet is not yet clear to us but very clear to Him who is painting out the details of even this moment. That vision held precious in the eyes of our Lord Jesus sees a future where the winds of adversity and the storms of opportunity hear your voice and obey because you are – "Listening, Learning and Coming!"

When Jesus liberates a person from chasing the wind he brings them into His labor and His passion and His joy.