EVA:The Saviour's Invitation  by Robert E Surgenor

   Down through the ages of time, invitations of various kinds have
fallen upon human ears. Some have received invitations from great
monarchs, promoting the invited one to great honour, while others have
accepted invitations from kings, only to find that the invitation was
given for the purpose of having them put to death.

   To number the invitations given to mankind since the placing of Adan
in Eden's fair garden, would be an absolute impossibility. However, the
greatest invitation ever given, came from the Lord Jesus in the city of
Capernaum - only to fall upon deaf ears and unresponsive hearts. I
trust that you will not be like those in that city of old, but that you
will manifest a responsive heart to this great invitation that our
blessed Lord gives to you today.

   His Weighty Words

   How profound is the Lord, yet how *simple* is His invitation. So
simple that even a child can take it in. There is no excuse for not
understanding Him. His words are also *sobering* and *searching*, for
He does not appeal to your intellect, but rather seeks to reach your
conscience, to convict you of your sins and your need of Him. One could
say His utterances were also *sincere*, for He always spoke with utmost
feeling from His tender heart. Yes, Jesus speaks in love to you. His
voice is filled with *sympathy*, for He fully understands your plight -
your bondage under sin - your unrest of soul - your dread of meeting
God - your fear of death and what is really beyond in the next world.

   The longest record for non-stop talking was by S.E. Jayaraman at the
Agaram Gandhi Statue in Madras, India. He talked for 200 hours, from
February 3rd to the 11th, 1987 and broke the world record for non-stop
talking. In contrast, how *short* are the statements of Christ, yet how
profoundly full of meaning! Seventeen words from the lips of the Son of
God to you are recorded in Matthew 11:28. Read them slowly and
carefully and see what they mean.

   "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will
give you rest."

   Let me draw your attention to the desire of Christ. He doesn't say,
Come unto the apostle Peter or even to Mary or the church. Ah no, the
Lord Jesus is the only One who can save your soul. It is He who says,
*"Come unto ME."* His word *"Come"* is in the present tense, which
simply means that He wants you to come NOW! He is urgent about it - are
you? God says, "Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not
what a day may bring forth" (Prov. 27:1). Remember, you could die even
tonight. If not saved, you would wake in hell to be lost forever. The
Lord says, *"Come NOW."*

   His Wondrous Grace

   The Saviour's heart is large. He bids *ALL* to come! *"Come unto Me,
ALL."* Wonderful grace indeed! He wants you to come just as you are,
with all your sins, doubts and fears. If you do, He will cleanse you
and give you the ability to live a godly, Christian life. The hymn
writer has put it this way, "Come ye sinners, poor and wretched, weak
and wounded, sick and sore, Jesus ready stands to save you, full of
pity, love and power. He is able, He is willing, doubt no more." At the
age of 23 I could truthfully sing, "I came to Jesus as I was, weary,
and worn and sad; I found in Him a resting place, and He has made me
glad." Can you sing this from experience?

   His Wonderful Promise

   The Lord said about the religious leaders in His day, "They bind
heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's
shoulders" (Matt. 23:4). Are you too, labouring under the heavy yoke of
religion, trying to obey the precepts of the law, seeking to keep
certain rites and ceremonies? God declares, "By the deeds of the law
there shall no flesh be justified in His sight" (Rom. 3:20). However,
the Saviour has good news for you! *"Come now, "* He says. *"Come unto
Me, all ye that LABOUR and are HEAVY LADEN."* And what will He do? He
says, *"I will give you rest."* He does not say, "I might" or "I may."
Ah no, He promises, *"I WILL,"* and He means what He says!

   Wages are given for work done, but a gift is a matter of charity. We
cannot work for salvation but we can receive it from Him as a gift,
thus He says, *"I will GIVE you rest." REST from a guilty conscience!
REST from the burden of failure to keep Moses' Law! REST from your load
of sin! REST from the dread of dying and meeting an anget God in your
unprepared state!

   Yes my dear soul, YOU, out of billions of people on earth, can have
perfect rest and peace NOW! Come to the risen Saviour who shed His
precious blood on Calvary for you. Can His words be trusted?
Absolutely! - for He is God (1 Tim 3:16) and God cannot lie (Titus
1:2). In fact, the Lord's words are the only thing you can rest your
soul on for eternity. Take his promise to your heart, trust Him as your
Saviour, and the promise of His invitation will be yours to enjoy -
forever!

   Robert E Surgenor, Evangelist

   The Gospel Messenger, 4527 West 226th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44126