The Bible promises us four glorious Gospel negatives:
- None – None of our sins remain unforgiven.
- No – No condemnation hangs over us.
- Never – Jesus will never leave us.
- Not – We will not exhaust God’s grace.
This is why the writer of Hebrews (3:1) tell us to “consider Jesus.” So, today, let’s consider some truths that Jesus WILL or WILL not do. For, after all, what else is there to consider of any worth?
# 1 - Jesus will never, ever fail you.
Your job will fail you, people will fail you, success will fail you, & you will fail you. “His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom” (Daniel 4:3). I’m putting all my chips on this square. No back-up plan in case King Jesus fails. It’s either Him, or total collapse. And if — unthinkably — His kingdom is defeated, I wouldn’t want to live in any future without Him.
#2 - Jesus will never divorce his Bride (the church).
When it comes to Jesus and His bride, some are rooting for a divorce. Please don't pit Jesus against the church. Despite her wandering eyes, Jesus will never divorce his Bride. For he says: "I will not leave you or forsake you" (Joshua 1:5b).
#3 - Jesus will build His church
Jesus never said, "I will build your church." No, He will not build our church. Nor did Jesus say he'd build a seminary or denomination. He said he'd build his church. We will not build His church. He will only build His church—and use us in the construction process. Jesus Christ himself will build his church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).
#4 - Jesus will never reject anyone who comes to him in faith.
Jesus: “Whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37). That word “whoever” has plenty of room for, well, whoever. And he didn’t say “Whoever deserves me” -- but just “Whoever comes to me.” We’re a mess. But we’re *his* mess now — whoever comes to him. Jesus will whole-heartedly receive all who come to him, and he will never throw them away. Take comfort knowing that the holiest one (Isaiah 6:3) of all is more accepting than the holier-than-thou folks of any age.
#5 - Jesus will not follow us. We must follow Him.
We all want to think we’d follow Jesus anywhere. So, by the power of the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21), He put Luke 9:57-62 into the Bible to help us pull up to the surface the limits we actually operate within. Breaking those barriers feels like loss--and even feels crazy--but in fact it’s freedom. No matter our station in life, Jesus has called us to follow him. We must pursue His will. He will not adopt our plans.
#6 - Jesus will NOT make everything in life easier.
We’re not reading our Bibles carefully if we think that following him is such. “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). I take this to imply that godliness is not only a rejection of sin (which may go unnoticed)… but an open announcement of Christ and his ways (which inevitably offends some).
#7 - Jesus will never “bust” us for being over-encouragers.
“Let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb. 10:25) . It’s impossible to overdo offering grace-salted words, redemptive presence, and “Day-fueled-hope.”
#8 - Jesus will return to make all things right.
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are resoundingly ‘YES!’ in Christ” (2 Cor. 1:20). Jesus will return. Rather than focusing on when, we ought to focus on our God-given mission until he returns. It’s not if, but when, Jesus will finish making all things new. Christian: Wait eagerly, love hopefully. Jesus will put things right through the eventual restoration of all that has gone wrong with the world. “He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20).
