Come and See

One of the most effective ways to make a significant point in a sermon, a story or a book is to emphasize your point at the beginning and the conclusion. Consequently and interestingly, the tree of life makes an appearance in both the opening and final scene of the Bible (see Gen 2.9; Rev 22.1-2). This tree radiated with the very life of God and it is of this tree that all humanity is invited to partake. Nonetheless, we prefer fruit from the tree that appears in Genesis 2, but is absent in Revelation 22, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. So instead of gladly receiving the life God offers, we have chosen that which leads to death. However, the God who offers life, loves the ones who have chosen death, and offered his own life to the forces of death that we might know life. Through Jesus Christ God is offering the very life of God to the world.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3.16, NASB).

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (John 10.10, NASB).

While the life we receive from God through Christ will last forever, the life described here is more about essence than it is about time. It’s more about quality than quantity. Here’s what I mean. God is above time. And the life he offers to the world is the life that he has enjoyed within himself for eternity. This is the life that he has offered and is offering to the world. Through the death and resurrection of his Son – through the pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost – through the continuing ministry of Jesus through his Body, the Church – God is offering his very life to the world.

My friends, I cannot imagine better news than this. The God of the universe is offering his very being – his very essence – his very life to the world. Moreover, his Son has commanded his Church to proclaim this good news to the world. Are we heeding his charge? It is my prayer that the Spirit of God will nurture within our Church family what I like to call a culture of invitation. We worship a God who freely gives himself to those who will accept him. Furthermore, every time we gather God is offering his life to those gathered. I would like to encourage each of you to contribute to this culture of invitation by prayerfully selecting someone within your network of relationships and saying to that person what Philip said to Nathanael, “Come and see” (John 1.46).