"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." What does the drawing represent? The drawing represents that we are separated. And outside of the drawing of Christ, we are ruined.
Scripture Focus: John 12:32; Hosea 11:4; Romans 2:4
"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself."
"I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love."
"Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance (Rom. 2:4)?"
Jesus says, "I will draw all men to Myself." What does that mean? Not that every man will be saved. But that He will save all kinds of men—every tribe, every tongue, every people, every nation, the rich and the poor, the wise and the fool, the old and the young.
And He says He's going to draw all men to Himself. What does that mean?
The drawing represents that we are separated. Naturally speaking, men are condemned. They are lost. They are hopeless. They are blind. They are stuck. God must draw them. They are immersed in sin. And John 3 says they love their sin. They hate the light. They do not come to the light because of the fear of being exposed. So they clutch and they cling and they clamor towards the darkness.
So it represents that we are separated outside of the drawing of Christ.
But what else does the drawing of Christ represent? It represents that He is kind.
He doesn't say, "I will drive them towards Myself." He says, "I will draw them."
Hosea 11:4: "I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love."
Yes, there is truth that when we look to the law in the Old Testament, that it functions like a tutor. Romans 3—every mouth will be stopped before a holy God. There's truth in that that binds the conscience and produces an awareness and an understanding of your guilt before God.
And yet when we talk about those realities, we have to understand that when Jesus says "flee from the wrath to come," He doesn't have foam coming out of His mouth. He has tears in His eyes.
He's a drawing God. He's a wooing God. He's drawing men to Himself.
It is the kindness of the Lord—Romans 2:4—that leads us to repentance.
We don't go kicking and screaming to God. We see His love and His mercy, His compassion, His kindness, His majesty, His power. He's oh so patient. And He brings them in.
Hosea says, "With cords of love."
He could be drawing you even now. You just have to think: Why would you resist such a Savior?
He's a kind God.
Don't you see the folly of refusing to come to a God who draws you with cords of love? Don't you see the folly of hardening your heart towards the One who shed His blood for you?
If you're in Christ, aren't you thankful that He liberated you from the dominion of the devil and from the domain of darkness?
I am.
1. Do you see God as a harsh taskmaster driving you, or as a kind Father drawing you with cords of love?
2. Can you sense Him drawing you right now—and if so, why would you resist?
3. Are you grateful that He didn't drive you to Himself, but drew you with kindness?
Stay dialed in