Irresistible grace comes only from Lord

Pastor Pat O'Rourke

Have you ever heard of irresistible grace? This is something that comes to a person from the Lord. It is so strong that you are compelled to recognize and act upon it. How well do I remember the winter of 1974-75! I was 22 years old, just busy doing what I had always wanted to do; traveling, playing my guitar and singing with my band. We were playing six nights a week leaving Sunday to travel to the next gig. I was even starting to make some money at it and really felt I “had it made”. Marijuana and hashish were a big part of my life. Every night we would get high on smoked dope before we played our music in bars, cabaret and discos. We really felt it caused us to play better. On an autumn night in a hotel in British Columbia, I was alone in my room. It was just around midnight after we had finished our last set for the night in the club downstairs. It was October 1974 and I was totally stoned on marijuana. As I sat relaxing after the long night of music, my eye saw an object on the dresser. It was the Gideon Bible. What transpired in the next few moments is permanently engraved upon my mind. I got up from my chair, picked up the Bible, sat down again and opened it. As I did, this thing called irresistible grace came to me. On the first page or fly leaf of the Gideon Bibles are printed the words of scripture from John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” I was instantly, absolutely sober. I stared at those words and as I did so, a voice spoke to me in my mind. “These words are truth.” Like most musicians, I was a searcher always looking for truth. Well, I had come to the end of my search. I knew that. I actually took that Bible from the hotel room and over the next few months began to read it. (The Gideons don’t mind if you take their Bibles.) As I began to read about the latter times and the last days in scripture, I began to realize that we are living in those “last days”. Because I was a traveling musician, I had a real good perspective of the direction our society was headed. Now, 31 years later, I can see I was not deceived. I am so glad I found the truth in scripture that night. About six months later on April 20, 1975, I came to an impass in my life. My study of the Bible had led me to a place where I knew I had to make a decision about God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Would I accept Him as my Lord and Savior? Begin to live my life for Him or would I continue to live my life in my own strength? I thank God again “irresistible grace” came to me. I began to live my life for Christ as a disciple of His. As I embraced His will for my life, I began to feel fulfilled in a new and joyful way. Has it been easy? God never promises us an easy road but you see there is ample supple of His irresistible grace. It isn’t always easy to live for God but somehow God makes it easy. Many of you who know my wife and I well are acquainted with some of the circumstances in our lives. We have suffered crushing blows yet our Lord has sustained us. Just last night, Elaine told me she is having a hard time going to sleep for several nights. “I am so excited about what God is doing in my life.” The scripture says, “Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.” So often all we can think about is our sorrow but the comfort that can flow to us from the Holy Spirit is really something else again. It is truly “irresistible grace”. Well, now that you have read about my story, how about you? Have you ever encountered “irresistible grace?” Do you have an assurance that God will care for you? Do you enjoy the wonderful experience of answered prayer? Most importantly, do you know what will happen immediately after you draw your last breath? Will you be on your way to heaven escorted by angels or will your realize your horror that you have spent your life in meaningless and vanity? Jesus said, speaking of Himself, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh upon the Father but by Me.” In that one statement, John 14:6, Jesus totally eliminated all other Gods. In Him and Him alone is salvation. My prayer for you is that you, too, will receive Jesus Christ into your heart and begin to always live for Him.