«Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance’ » (Luke 5:31, 32).
SHOULD SINNERS REPENT FIRST before responding to Christ’s call? That is, should they wait until they are free of guilt before experiencing the Savior’s power to forgive? A story told by Dwight L. Moody helps us answer this question.
Moody says that many years ago a boy was kidnapped in London. In spite of the authorities’ efforts, the boy did not turn up. That was how every attempt to rescue him was abandoned; and everyone, except for his mother, lost hope in ever seeing him again.
However, one day something interesting happened. The boy, who had become a young man, was sent to clean the chimney at a certain home in a neighborhood. By mistake, the boy went to the wrong address and performed the usual cleaning. When he came down from the chimney, he felt the place looked familiar. Entranced, he was looking at the details of the home, when the homeowner walked in. It was his mother! The young man immediately recognized her. But would she recognize him? Of course!
What do you think his mother did then? Did she send her son to take a bath before hugging him? The boy was full of soot, dressed in rags, and also smelled terrible. The story goes that his mother flung herself at him, hugged and kissed him tenderly, while tears of joy ran down her face.
So, should a sinner wait until they are free of guilt before going to the Savior? Let’s read the answer in Steps to Christ: «The Bible does not teach that the sinner must repent before he can heed the invitation of Christ, ‘Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.’ «—ch. 3, p. 26. Why is that so? Because it is precisely «the virtue that goes forth from Christ, that leads to genuine repentance.”-Ibid; and because the Lord did not come «to call the righteous, but sinners.» In other words, salvation is the work of Christ from beginning to end!
«The whole work is the Lord’s from the beginning to the end. The perishing sinner may say; . . ‘I am a sinner, and He died upon Calvary’s cross to save me, I need not remain a moment longer unsaved. He died and rose again for my justification, and He will save me now. I accept the forgiveness He has promised.’ «—Selected Messages, Book l, ch. 62, p. 392.
Dear Jesus, I do not want to be far from You a minute longer.
I know I am a sinner, but by faith I accept that You died for me on the cross.
May Your precious blood erase my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness! Amen.
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2022
“GREAT IS OUR GOD!”
From: FERNANDO ZABALA
Collaborators: Xiomara Perdomo & Angelica Cuate
