The Divine Magnet That Draws With Irresistible Force, Hearts of Steel (and others)

The Divine Magnet That Draws With Irresistible Force, Hearts of Steel! (and others)

"But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself!" (John 12:32).

Whenever and wherever Christ is lifted up, then His power to attract is made plain. The elect of God, drawn by a power they have no ability or will to resist, take their places beneath the Cross. The uplifting of Christ crucified, is God's chosen means to draw to Himself His elect, yet hidden people. The Cross is the divine magnet that draws with irresistible force, hearts of steel. So mighty is its magnetic power, that it attracts those on whom all other means have failed.

We had often been compelled to take our stand before Mount Sinai. But though its lightnings flashed into our every eyes, and its thunders crashed right over head, our heart remained as hard as rock - yes, pride seemed more rampant in that dread storm than ever - we felt we might be broken - but we resolved we would never bend.

There have been moments when hell argued with us, and all its sentences were written in glowing flame! There were moments when eternal damnation forced itself upon our thoughts, and made us dread the death that never dies. But though our knees shook with fright, our flinty hearts remained unmelted.

Sinai and hell both failed. So also did Heaven, for though we read of its glories, and heard tell of its joys, and sometimes had a languid desire at last to find our way there - we still remained unattracted, and reveled in the vain world.

But when a bleeding Saviour hanging on a tree met our sight, then not only were our eyes riveted - but an unseen hand touched every heart-string. We looked - and looked - and looked again - and felt that as we looked, we were being drawn with silken cords nearer, yet nearer still, until we found ourselves as penitents at His blessed feet!

Beautifully has John Newton described this sweet experience as his own:

"In evil long I took delight,
Unawed by shame or fear;
Until a new object struck my sight,
And stopped my wild career!

I saw One hanging on a tree,
In agonies and blood.
He fixed His languid eyes on me,
As near His Cross I stood.

Sure never til my dying breath,
Can I forget that look!
It seemed to charge me with His death,
Though not a word He spoke.

A second look He gave, which said,
I freely all forgive;
This blood is for your ransom paid,
I die, that you may live!"

~Archibald Brown~
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Nothing Escapes His Notice!

What a wondrous Being is the God of Scripture!

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:13).

God is omniscient. He knows everything: everything possible, everything actual, all events, all creatures, of the past, the present, and the future.

He is perfectly acquainted with every detail in the life of every being in heaven, on earth, and in hell. Nothing escapes His notice, nothing can be hidden from Him, nothing is forgotten by Him. His knowledge is perfect. He never errs. He never changes. He never overlooks anything.

God not only knows whatever has happened in the past in every part of His vast domains; and He is not only thoroughly acquainted with everything that is now transpiring throughout the entire universe - but He is also perfectly cognizant of every event, from the least to the greatest, that ever will happen in the ages to come!  God's knowledge of the future is as complete as is His knowledge of the past and the present; and that, because the future depends entirely upon Himself. God has Himself designed whatever shall yet be, and what He has designed, must be effectuated. God's knowledge does not arise from things because they are or will be - but because He has ordained them to be! Yes, such is the God with whom we have to do!

"You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue - You know it completely, O Lord!" (Psalm 139:2-4).

How solemn is this fact: nothing can be concealed from God! "For I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them" (Ezekiel 11:5). Though He is invisible to us - we are not so to Him. Neither the darkness of night, the closest curtains, nor the deepest dungeon - can hide any sinner from the eyes of Omniscience! Men would strip Deity of His omniscience if they could. They wish there might be no Witness of their sins, no Searcher of their hearts, no Judge of their deeds!

~A. W. Pink~