Editor’s note: This is a reprinted column from Jack Purcell’s “On the Journey” archives. It originally appeared in The Star in 2013.
The term “Come forth” is found many places in the Bible, but maybe none quite as striking as that found in John 11:43 where Jesus “cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth.’”
On this occasion Jesus raised his good friend Lazarus from four days in the grave with a mere command. A rather remarkable miracle, wouldn’t you say?
The concept of coming forth does not end with Lazarus. I would like to point out two more miracles that also represent coming forth extremely well, even though the command is not recorded in Scripture.
The second can come as no surprise. It is the day we celebrate Easter.
As you well know, the celebration is the most important on the Christian calendar or any other calendar for that matter.
The resurrection and coming forth of Jesus from the grave is the greatest miracle of all time because it changed the course of history forever. The savior of all mankind came forth from the grave to bring life out of death to the world.
Even an honest atheist cannot deny the historical significance of Jesus in the world. Men for 2,000 years have been trying to deny, in one form or another, the place that Jesus holds in our world. None have or ever can succeed. He is the overcomer.
So what is this third “come forth?” I believe it is God’s call to his church, and here I am speaking of the true church, not just denominational groupings. The church of God’s is made up of true believers of whom I hope you are one.
For a moment let us forget what organization we belong to that we identify as church and think of the body throughout the world. Those of us in America are wealthy, but millions of believers in other parts of the world are desperately poor measured by our standards. Others are being persecuted and martyred for their faith.
To this great body, God has said “yea” and even commanded come forth, oh church, oh God. Since I dare not speak for or to those who suffer for the name of Jesus, I will speak directly to those of us who are unbelievably blessed. At least that is how it appears to us. It may be that the persecuted Christians are the blessed ones.
So how do you think we here in America are doing on the “come forth” scale? From my limited pointed of view, I would guess we are a little light. (No pun intended.)
I want to pose some thoughts for you to consider. I know I sound like a broken record, but who is winning the influence race, the church or the culture? How might that look if the church did a better job of loving rather than judging?
Jesus’ command to “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation” begs the question, How is that working?
Is the preaching only done in the pulpit or is it lived out in the lives of the people who have feasted on the coming forth of Jesus?
Let us all celebrate that glorious day when Jesus came forth and live out of his life that indwells us.
The gifts of the Spirit. It is the result of the discipline of time spent with Jesus.
One of my favorite authors died recently. Brennan Manning had a great way of describing times of quiet before the Lord. He described it as “just wasting time with Jesus.”
We would all find steadfastness more common if we “wasted time with Jesus.”
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