NEWS & THOUGHTS ARCHIVE

Drawn or Driven

Evangelist Dr. Bob Sanders
November 1, 2009

> PRINT FRIENDLY VERSION

I will soon conclude six decades as a citizen of this world and three years shy of five decades as a citizen of the world to come. To say that I have seen things change is an understatement. Some of the changes have been very open and blatant! Certain sins have not just come out of the closet; they have taken over the house. The world is alarmed that this is only the beginning of the flu season and seventy babies have already died. Yet we are not disturbed that there will be that many babies legally murdered in a single day in the abortion clinics of America. I have lived to see the same four letter words that were once banned from the airways, now used as titles for what the world describes a family programming. For those that even bother to get married, partners are exchanged like the milk bottles of yester year. The absolutes of the past are now the questions of the future. We can no longer define what is life, the family, or moral purity. I never thought I would come to the point that the sunset looked better that the sunrise. 

All the changes have not been as obvious. One such gradual change has occurred within the walls of the church. There are basically two methods of social and spiritual interaction; driving and drawing. I am only interested in the spiritual aspect! Under the basic premise, both methods say that they have the same ultimate objectives; that of enhancing mans relationship with his creator. Yet, the two methods are worlds apart! While others may not agree, I believe that one is a secular method and one is a spiritual method. The secular method of religion uses the outward method of driving. The spiritual method of relationship uses the inward method of drawing. Let me give you an example that will enhance your basic understanding of the two methods. I have a friend that has about twenty head of cattle. His farm is divided by a major county road. Because of this division, it is necessary to move his cattle across the road twice a year. One way to move them is to go out in the field and get behind them and try to drive them in the direction we want them to go in hopes that you can get all of them across the road at the same time. This is the method of applying outward pressure. While this method has been known to work, it requires a lot of time and energy. The way that works best for my friend is to draw his cattle across the road by the force of inward pleasure. He gets a large plastic five gallon bucket with sweet feed in it. He goes to the edge of the field, calls for the cattle while slapping the side of the bucket and in a moment of time the cattle gather at the gate. He then opens the gate and walks across the road with the cattle following close behind. This method is not only simple, but can be accomplished by a single individual. 

I believe that the divine principle set forth in the Word of God is drawing and not driving! There has been a gradual and progressive shift away from spiritual drawing with a move toward secular driving. Spiritual principles are being replaced with the secular practices of big business. The pastor no longer views himself as a servant of men, but the sovereign of the ministry. Church is all about the mechanics, methods, numbers, and notoriety. I want to look at four areas of spiritual drawing. 

Drawn to Salvation 

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”
John 12:32

“knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”
Romans 2:4 

John records for us the words of Jesus, “And I . . . will draw all men unto me.” Men are not driven to Christ, they are drawn to Christ. The means by which men are drawn is the love of God. John, the disciple of love, reminds us that “We love him, because he first loved us” (I John 4:19). The love of God was manifested when Jesus took our place on the cross. Paul remind the believers at Corinth of this great truth when he wrote, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (II Corinthians 5:21).  Salvation is not a work that occurs in the head, but rather the heart. Everything that God has done in behalf of man has been done not so much to get our attention as it is to gain our affections. You may attract the head and never win the heart, but you win the heart and the head will follow! One of the manifestations of salvation is repentance in the life of the believer. When Paul used the word “repentance” in Romans 2:4, it means reformation by implication of a reversal. What was it that spurred this reversal, “the goodness of God.” It was God’s graciousness and kindness toward us that turned our habits as well as our hearts away for sin unto the Saviour. 

Drawn to Service 

“Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him . . . For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” II Corinthians 5:9 & 14-15 

Within the text Paul does not say that they can labor, but rather “we labour.” The word “labour” means to strive, study, or to labor. Paul is busy in his service for the Lord. When I think of Paul’s dedication and devotion to service, I am reminded of the words of Jesus when Mary and Joseph sought Him out in Jerusalem, “wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?” (Luke 2:49). Paul wanted to serve the Lord because he wanted “to be accepted of him.” The word “accepted” means to be well pleasing unto or to be acceptable. Paul wanted to please the Lord above all others. What was it that created this kind of spirit within the heart of the Apostle Paul; “the love of Christ constraineth us.” The word “constraineth” means to arrest, to compel, be taken with, to press. Some have described it as the reins placed within the hands of the rider used to direct and control a horse. What arrested and compelled Paul to such an allegiance of service, “the love of Christ.” The cross of Christ had not only drawn Paul in salvation, but it had drawn his life to service. The type of service that God desires is pictured for us in Exodus 21. There the bond slave began serving another because of debt. Time had elapsed and sufficient service had been rendered that the debtor was now at liberty to leave, yet he chose to remain forever a servant to the master. What would cause this response? “And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:” Exodus 21:5 What may have started as debt had turned to devotion! God wants us to serve Him because we are drawn to Him in love.

Drawn to Surrender 

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2 

When it comes to surrendering ourselves totally unto the Lord, we could once again be reminded of our debt, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's” (I Corinthians 6:20). God did not just pay any price for our redemption. He paid the supreme price, the death of His Son of the cross! It is not debt, but devotion that God desires to be the motivation for our surrender. Paul called for a sacrifice, but not just any kind of sacrifice. Paul did not plan on bringing a sacrifice. He planed on being a sacrifice! What would motivate Paul to surrender his entire being to God, “the mercies of God.” When God should have responded to man’s sin with justice and wrath, God gave mercy and grace. Mindful of what God had done for him, Paul would be drawn to surrendering his all to God. 

While God is certainly big enough and powerful enough to drive man into a state of conformity, He would rather draw men into a state of charity. It was the compassionate desires of God that caused Him to respond to the needs of sinful man by giving His Son to be a ransom for sin. Man could respond because of debt, but God’s delight is when we respond because of devotion. He has loved us and we respond by loving Him. We are drawn to Him in salvation, service, and surrender. Religion is in the business of driving men, while a spiritual relationship draws men.

> PRINT FRIENDLY VERSION