Thinking Like a Christian

A series of Scripture meditations on what the Bible teaches about the Christian life.

by Pastor Pete Beck III

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Will You Go?

Then they said, “We’ll call the girl and find out what she wants to do.” 58 So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Do you want to go with this man?” She replied, “I want to go.” Genesis 24:57-58 (NET1) 

The account of how Abraham's servant searched for and found a suitable wife for his son Isaac is a beautiful type of how the Holy Spirit is now working on planet earth to acquire the Bride of Christ. You probably know the story already. Abraham did not want Isaac to marry a Canaanite woman, but rather someone from his relatives, who lived far away. When Eliezer found Rebecca and requested that she be given to his master's son, the father immediately said, "Yes". However, before sending her away, Rebecca was asked if she was willing to go, as seen in the opening verse above. Today the Holy Spirit is going into the highways and byways of life to gather the elect from the four corners of the globe. One account says that he "compels" people to come to the marriage feast. There is a certain sense in which God does compels us, but it is never against our will. I am not sure what would have happened if Rebecca had refused to go to that far land to marry Isaac, but the important thing is that she acquiesced, despite the fact that it meant leaving all her loved ones and home. What a step of faith she took! Likewise, the Lord calls us to become part of his worldwide church and bride when we hear the gospel message. We, too, must decide if we are willing to forsake all others to be with and follow the Lord Jesus. How have you responded to the invitation to be the Lord's bride? Have you forsaken everything this world has to offer because what He offers is so much greater? He is waiting for you to do just that.

Instead many Christians today are leaving rather than following. They become offended by something that happens in church or by something the pastor or some leader does or says. The same thing happened when Jesus was conducting his earthly ministry. He taught his followers one day that they must eat his flesh and drink his blood. This strange doctrine offended their sensibilities and revealed their hearts. They judged the Lord and his words and left.

After this many of his disciples quit following him and did not accompany him any longer. John 6:66 (NET1)

Upon observing this mass exodus, Jesus turned to his disciples and asked them if they wished to leave as well.

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. John 6:68 (NET1)

Peter and the rest chose to remain when many chose to go. So then, as disciples we must answer the question, "Will you go?", at least twice The first time is when we hear the master's call through the gospel. The second time is when we get offended, and we will. Count on it. There are also other times we must answer that question - every time God asks us to obey him in a way that takes us beyond our comfort zone. It may require that we pack up and leave familiar surroundings as did Rebecca, or it may simply require us to take a leap of faith and do something new. I hope we will always say "yes" to the Lord.

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