Even the Worst

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

D.L. MOODY
I like to have a text like this because it takes us all in. “Come unto me, all ye that labour.” That doesn’t mean a select few—refined ladies and cultured men. It doesn’t mean good people only. It applies to saint and sinner. Do you think that Christ would shut the door in any one’s face, and say, “I did not mean all; I only meant certain ones”? If you cannot come as a saint, come as a sinner. Only come!
A lady told me once that she was so hard-hearted she couldn’t come. “Well,” I said, “my good woman, it doesn’t say all ye soft-hearted people come. Black hearts, vile hearts, hard hearts, soft hearts, all hearts come. Who can soften your hard heart but Himself?”

ERWIN LUTZER
Yes, Jesus invites all sinners to Himself, even the hardest of hearts. Can you see Jesus dying on that cross between two thieves? One reviled him, “If you are the Son of God, do something,” while the other says, “Jesus, remember me.” To the second thief Jesus responds, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
I marvel at the faith of this man who put so much confidence in someone in a position as bad as his own. Jesus didn’t appear any better than the other two dying men. Yet the thief says, “Though He’s dying, I’m going to believe in Him anyway.” And Jesus assured the man of eternal rest.
I love the hymn with this line, “The vilest of offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.”

PRAYER
Father, thank you for the invitation that all who trust in your Son are saved.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
What goes through your mind when you encounter someone who seems beyond the reach of redemption?

How would you feel if you saw Hitler or Judas Iscariot in Heaven?