Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit · Sermon No. 2618
“They straightway left their nets, and followed Him.” Matthew 4:20.
“THEY straightway left their nets.” Immediately, without hesitation, without question. At once, on the spot, then and there, instantaneously—at the Master’s call they “left their nets, and followed Him.” It was one mark of our Savior’s authority and power that. when He commanded, men obeyed. Your memories will help you to recall many instances in which persons and even inanimate things instantly obeyed when Christ gave them the word of command. Satan and legions of demons, diseases of every kind and even winds and waves—those things which usually seem to be lawless and wild always gave heed to the Law which issued from His lips. When He spoke, it was done, for His Word was with power.
This is a mark of the effectual calling by Divine Grace—whenever it comes, men are led “straightway” to obey it. I may call you as long as I please, yet you will not come to Christ for all my calling. But if Christ shall call you by His Spirit, you will come. Yes, and come “straightway.” When the command of Christ is applied to the soul with Divine energy, there is an immediate yielding of the heart to Him and His Law is obeyed. Judge yourselves, therefore, dear Friends, whether the Word of God has come with power to you or not, for if it has not come with almighty power, but you merely hear it as I speak it, you will say to me, as Felix said to Paul, “Go your way for a time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for you.” But if the Truth of God proclaimed shall be accompanied with the energy of the Holy Spirit, then, as soon as the Lord says, “Seek you My face,” your heart will respond to Him, “Your face, Lord, will I seek.” Pray to the Lord, you who have heard and answered the call of His Spirit, that the same call may be given to others, and be effectually applied to them, to the praise of the Glory of God’s Grace.
I am going to use, in two ways, one word in my text—“straightway.” First, I suggest that this word, “straightway,” should be a motto for all Christians. All disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ should take that word as their guiding star! Secondly, let all seekers take if as their motto, too—“straightway.” If you would find Christ, seek Him at once— “straightway.”
I. First, then, let this word, “straightway,” be THE MOTTO OF EVERY DISCIPLE OF THE LORD JESUS
Christ
When I preached, many years ago, in the cathedral at Geneva, after the service was ended, the Brothers presented me with a large bronze commemorative medal of John Calvin, on which is this passage, “He endured, as seeing Him who is invisible,” which was a most suitable motto text for him. Upon the covers of his works are these words, which are also truly descriptive of the man, “Prompte et sincere in opere Domini”—“Prompt and sincere in the work of the Lord.” I was pleased with both those mottos and my prayer, then, was, and still is, that they may both be mine as well as Calvin’s. I pray that I may endure, as seeing Him who is invisible, and that I may also live to earn that other commendation, “prompt and sincere in the work of the Lord.” Sincere, I trust we all are, who love the Savior, but we are not all as prompt as we are sincere! You know, in business, people like a man of prompt payments upon whom they can always depend. We also like persons to be prompt in carrying out their promises, but, oh, to be prompt in the work of the Lord, so as to not only do the right thing, but to do it at the right time—and that right time almost always is the time suggested by my text, “straightway.” “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,” and do it at once. Leave it not to lie by among the lumber of good intentions, but if you are prompted to do it, set to work and do it immediately!
“Straightway,” then, is to be the motto of the Christian, first, in obeying Christ’s Laws. The moment, my dear Friend, that you find yourself in the Kingdom of Heaven by faith in Christ, endeavor to be a loyal, Law-keeping subject. Mary said to the servants at the marriage feast of Cana, concerning her Son, “Whatever He says unto you, do it.” And I say the same. “Whatever He says unto you”—He whom you have now taken to be your Lord and King—do not merely talk about it, or think of it, but do it and do it at once! “I counsel you,” said Solomon, “to keep the King’s commandment.” Take Solomon’s advice and let me add as a rider to it, “Keep the King’s commandments straightway.” As soon as ever a man becomes a Believer in Christ, the next step for him to take is to be baptized. The two things are constantly joined together in the New Testament. Our Lord said, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.” When the eunuch came to a certain water, he asked Philip, “What does hinder me to be baptized?” Philip answered, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” I add to that, “If you believe with all your heart, you not only may, but you are bound to do it according to the Law of the Kingdom of Christ!” Do you tell me that you cannot see it to be your duty? I would advise you candidly to search the Scriptures and find out the teaching and practice of our Lord and His Apostles concerning Believers’ Baptism. If, after that, you still say the same, I must leave you to your Master—I am not your judge.