“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.” (John 14:15-17 NKJV)
I have been blessed to live in Indianapolis long enough to witness its population become more and more diverse. In this sector of the land of opportunity, as our nation has been referred to, the masses of people in our city come from all over the globe. Your city might have already been characterized by diversity and hopefully inclusion and equality too. If not, it will happen in the near future.
I went to the pharmacy Thursday, and I noticed the people; an aggregate, they looked like an amazing quilt of all God’s children, red, yellow, black, brown, and white, all precious in His sight. Dialects and dress may have differed from mine. We all did not speak the same primary language. However, I did not focus my thoughts on our differences, but rather on our commonality, how we all had the same need for Christ. This question came to mind: “How can we effectively reach the masses who need to experience salvation.” The answer, appropriate and assuredly timely for this Holy Week leading up to Resurrection Morning came to me in the form of an old hymn. Can I share it with you? Thanks for nodding your head, “Yes.” Here are the words to the song composed by Johnson Oatman, Jr. in 1903.
How to reach the masses, men of every birth,
For an answer, Jesus gave the key:
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth,
Will draw all men unto Me.”
Refrain:
Lift Him up, lift Him up;
Still He speaks from eternity:
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth,
Will draw all men unto Me.”
Oh! the world is hungry for the Living Bread,
Lift the Savior up for them to see;
Trust Him, and do not doubt the words that He said,
“I’ll draw all men unto Me.”
Don’t exalt the preacher, don’t exalt the pew,
Preach the Gospel simple, full, and free;
Prove Him and you will find that promise is true,
“I’ll draw all men unto Me.”
Lift Him up by living as a Christian ought,
Let the world in you the Savior see;
Then men will gladly follow Him Who once taught,
“I’ll draw all men unto Me.”
Did “the answer” speak to you? I hope it did! Keep your mind focused on Jesus this Saturday, and don’t forget to rejoice in service tomorrow at your place of worship, celebrating the fact that we serve a risen Savior. Be blessed!
“He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.” (Matthew 28:6 NLT)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King