Never, Not Ever
If I craft a picture of Jesus in my mind, I see him brushing sawdust from his clothes and hanging with working people, playing games with groups of kids, waving to outsiders of all stripes to come close, powerfully challenging religious norms and those who push them, teaching huge truths wrapped in plain brown wrappers. His arms are open, his eyes sparkle, words invite and enlighten and challenge. He effortlessly navigates through power, moves toward pain and loss, cries at graves, laughs at jokes and at storms.
Now, photoshop that image into a picture of you at the moment you have screwed up…again. If it’s true that, as Paul says, we have “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” then I have just dragged him along with me into the outhouse of my next mess. He lives what I choose. Does he still carry that serene smile with welcoming eyes and arms held wide open? Or has his demeanor changed toward the negative, possibly dismissive look of a ready-to-punish parent exasperated by the child who just won’t get their act together? Might this be the last straw that breaks the back of my bond with him?
How I see Jesus when at my worst reveals my theology of God.
If I see God as severe in his holiness and quick in his judgment, that will color how I view my life in all its flaws before him. Distance does little to engender devotion beyond cringing fear and performing for acceptance with only a hope of blessing. Then Jesus becomes almost an opposite to the Father: The son placating an angry God, and that’s not the God-relationship we see in the bible.
However, if I begin with God’s essence being love and out of that flow all of his attributes like holiness and justice and wrath and the rest, that changes the picture. And if Jesus is, as Paul teaches, the visible expression of the invisible God and I sense from him a winsomeness that invites rather than condemns, there may be hope for the stumblers like you and me.
Back in the 1600s, John Bunyan wondered about this aloud in his book Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ. Even though the Pilgrim’s Progress author was formally untrained, he still authored close to 60 books, and as typical with Puritan writers, he wrote this whole book on one verse, John 6:37.
All who the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
The old King James translates the double negative in the original as “I will in no wise cast out.” For us the impact comes through a bit more clearly with something like, “I will never, not ever, cast out.” This becomes the Jesus confrontation with our failures. The relentless Jesus in pursuit of his creation just won’t give up, refuses to walk away, and will never leave one of his own alone.
Bunyan puts this in a dialogue that anyone, in any century, can relate to.
But I am a great sinner, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ.
But I am an old sinner, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ.
But I am a hard-hearted sinner, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ.
But I am a backsliding sinner, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ.
But I have served Satan all my days, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ.
But I have sinned against light, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ.
But I have sinned against mercy, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ.
But I have no good thing to bring with me, say you. “I will in no wise cast out,” says Christ.
Like a hammer driving home nails, this promise stops any objection, and answers each one with a resounding “Never.” Even when I can write pages of reasons why Jesus might be done with me, he says that it will never happen. The shepherd will never abandon his sheep, not even the one who insists on wandering.
Pastor Dane Ortlund paints this idea of the limitlessness of Jesus’ love.
Every human friend has a limit. If we offend enough, if a relationship gets damaged enough, if we betray enough times, we are cast out. The walls go up. With Christ, our sins and weaknesses are the very résumé items that qualify us to approach him. Nothing but coming to him is required—first at conversion and then a thousand times thereafter until we are with him upon death.
So, how do you respond to this relentless pursuit of Jesus?
What do you make of God himself living inside a person?
John Newton, of Amazing Grace fame, in a letter to a friend in 1767, answers these questions with this resounding affirmation. The second time I read this paragraph, it really hit home.
Are not you amazed sometimes that you should have so much as a hope, that, poor and needy as you are, the Lord thinks of you? But let not all you feel discourage you. For if our Physician is almighty, our disease cannot be desperate, and if He casts none out that come to Him, why should you fear? Our sins are many, but His mercies are more: our sins are great, but His righteousness is greater: we are weak, but He is power. Most of our complaints are owing to unbelief, and the remainder of a legal spirit.
In the midst of our mess, truth triumphs, and a mature course to take for one who believes in Jesus looks like opening up more and more to follow his lead and example. This isn’t performing for his approval, you already have it. This is living out in real life your new life without fear of losing him. This moves a believer in the direction of what Jesus promised: Life to the full.
In the meantime, crack open the door and let in the words of your Savior, into the parts that still show the label of “less than” or “failure” or “not good enough” (or addict or gossip or lust-er or anger-er or envy-er of rarely prayer-er or any other habitual sin that sticks like a barnacle to your hull to slow your progress). Ask the Spirit to energize your heart with his words to you. Then lean into his life in you toward the new life, the life to the full, that he said is yours. You are bound to wander, and he is just as bound to welcome you home.
All who the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never, not ever, cast out.
Let that sink in today. Now, that’s good news.
Music to celebrate Good News!
Funnies? Sure…
The trial went on for 4 weeks with testimony by both sides. Finally, the jury retired to determine the verdict.
After 2 days the jury had reached a decision to acquit the prisoner.
Judge: "What possible reason could you have for acquitting the prisoner?"
Foreman: "Insanity, sir."
Judge: "What, all twelve of you?"
__________
St. Peter was standing at the Pearly Gates when a soul approached, hopeful of being let in.
Peter asked, "Why should I let you into Heaven?"
The very recently departed answered, "Once a coworker said "supposably" seven times in a meeting and I just let her."
St. Peter, "Get in here!"