God pursues sinners to yield to Him
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Faith Fitness
Bro. Sam Kaufman
As a newspaper writer I use the word “apprehended” multiple times a week – usually in reference to law enforcement arresting a suspect.
Many times, it is regarding someone who attempted to elude officers – be it on foot or in a vehicle. Those suspects are eventually apprehended – most of them, anyway.
Those types of incidents involve a pursuit, or a suspect being pursued by law enforcement. Sometimes, a high-speed pursuit is involved if the suspect puts the metal to the pedal, so to speak.
Spiritually speaking, it is God who lovingly pursues sinners with the intent of them yielding their lives and accepting Jesus Christ as Saviour.
That way, their sins can be forgiven and they can know God on a personal level – including the hope of heaven and an eternal abode with God if they remain faithful.
It is God’s will for everyone to come to Christ. Once they do, there is a plan for their lives and work to do!
God uses us to love others, reach others, preach, teach, sing, pray, and much more.
God has a calling for all. That work materializes as we follow God through our lives and doesn’t stop until it is time to go to Him.
Paul mentioned these things in Philippians 3.
Specifically, Paul states in verse 12, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ.”
In other words, God apprehended Paul for a purpose, and Paul desired to apprehend and obtain that plan for his life.
It is a two-part apprehension of the Lord – first for us to yield to Him for salvation, and secondly, for us to yield to His calling and plans for us.
Some never give their lives over to God – even after God has pursued and pursued.
In the natural, the longer a law enforcement pursuit occurs, the more opportunity exists with possible danger.
Those pursuits can result in crashes that injure or even kill the suspects, along with innocent people who happen to be in their path.
The best scenario is when suspects don’t go far before pulling over to the blaring sirens and flashing lights. In those cases, the speeds don’t get too high.
Paul testified of his experience and relationship with several leaders, including King Agrippa.
It was obvious that God was working through Paul to reach King Agrippa. In other words, God was pursuing the king’s soul.
Would King Agrippa pull over and yield to the greatest Authority of all?
“Almost” is not good enough when it comes to giving over to God. It is an all-in proposition, or nothing.
“For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said to Paul, Almost thou persuades me to be a Christian.” – Acts 26:26-28.
If Agrippa maintained that position his entire life, he missed heaven by an “almost.” Could you imagine suffering in the Lake of Fire for eternity knowing you were that close? What torment that would be.
Concerning God’s pursuit and calling after one is saved, consider Jonah. God called him to preach to Ninevah, but Jonah initially fled from the presence of God.
Paul’s response to God’s pursuit of him was different.
He yielded to Jesus when Jesus appeared to him on the Road to Damascus. The conversion came after Jesus told him it was hard for him kick against the pricks – or, in other words, to fight against God.
One of the first few questions Paul asked Jesus was, “What would you have me to do?”
Paul is a good example of someone yielding to Christ for salvation and yielding himself to God’s perfect will and plan for his life.
There is no higher calling. Jesus told Paul, “But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the gentiles, unto whom I now send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” – Acts 26:16-18.
Paul said in Philippians 3:13 that, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Paul wrote those words while he was still living. It is evident that he truly did apprehend that for which he was apprehended. At the end of his life, he wrote that he fought a good fight, kept the faith and finished his course. A crown awaited him.
