0305. Lazarus, Come Forth!

Lazarus, Come Forth!

"And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth, and he that was dead, came forth" (Luk_11:43).

1. We have before us a work that only God can do. People who are brought from death unto life, and are born again, are born, "not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

In Eph_2:1-4, there is a marvelous picture. There is a sixfold description of the sinner. He is dead; he is walking according to the course of this age; he is walking according to the prince of the power of the air; he is a child of disobedience; he is fulfilling the desires of the lust of the flesh and of the mind, and he is a child of wrath.

In Eph_2:4, we read, "But God hath quickened, hath raised us up, * * hath made us to sit together."

Lazarus was dead, "but God," came along the way, and he was quickened and raised up. The sinner is dead, "but God" comes into his life, and he passes from death unto life.

John Newton was a sinner, down in the depths, a wandering vagabond upon the earth; "but God," and John Newton was transformed into the matchless preacher and hymn writer.

Sam Hadley was a sinner, the vilest of the vile, a drunkard and an outcast; "but God," and Sam Hadley became the successful mission worker, leading thousands to Christ.

Mel Trotter was a sinner, so low in sin that he had to reach up to touch the bottom, "but God," and Mel Trotter became an evangelist known on two continents and blessed of God.

Thus Christ said, "Lazarus, come forth," and he that was dead came forth.

Illustration: One night we were called to the home of a man who knew not God, who never attended church, and who, because of his regular sprees, had forced his wife to return to the home of her parents. The children she had taken with her.

When I saw him, he had just been in a fight, and the doctor had left him, after binding up his wounds.

As we entered his home, Taylor (for such was his name) said: "Is this preacher Neighbour?" We replied that it was he. He said he had cursed me many times thinking that all the preachers were preaching for nothing but the money. Then he said: "I have sent for you, Mr. Neighbour, because I have a feeling that if I ever take another drink of liquor, I will land in hell."

He continued: "If your Jesus can do anything for an old sinner like me, I want Him to do it."

We read him a few passages from the Word of God, and opened up the way of life, through faith in Christ. Then we said let us tell God about it. We prayed, and a friend who accompanied us prayed, and then we said: "Mr. Taylor, you pray." He insisted he had not prayed since he was a boy. We said, "Taylor, pray." He replied: "I don’t know how to start." We said, "Taylor, start any old way. Just tell God what a sinner you are, and what you want Him to do for you, and tell Him you’ll receive Christ as your Saviour."

Then Taylor began to pray. O, how he prayed. In the middle of his prayer, his very tone of voice changed. He became exultant; he began to praise God for the gift of His Son.

Finally we said, "Amen, Taylor, that’s enough." We arose from our knees. The grip of his hand still lingers with us, as he said, "Mr. Neighbour, It’s done! I’m saved!"

Taylor sent for his wife and soon she returned with the children. From that day Taylor never drank again. Christ had said "Come forth, and he that was dead came forth."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR