“You were wearied with the length of your way,

but you did not say, ‘It is hopeless;’

you found new life for your strength,

and so you were not faint.”

Here is the problem with man: he is not faint and weary hearted. He trusts in himself, because he thinks that he can make it without God.

First, this is folly. The way is too hard for us, and we cannot bear it. God demands perfection, and we have none. Hell is the payment for sins, so there’s nothing we can do but trust the cross… but having no need, man casts off Christ. He doesn’t want the Holy Spirit for obedience, because he feels himself sufficient, but he doesn’t know that sin is too heavy; it is in his members, and Satan is deceitful. Rom 7:17, “But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” He doesn’t know that no man can serve God in himself, so he casts off the Spirit, rejects Him as superfluous, and contents himself in his own strength. He’s willing to get off his knees without the blessing, and He doesn’t know that he needs Christ’s presence! He is walking on his own, because he doesn’t think that he needs God!

Secondly, God will help, if we come to Him. Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who are fatigued and are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest [Matt 11:28].”

Do you see it? Rest is freely given: it is not earned; it is not something given to the worthy; rest is given to the vilest offender who is sorry, regrets his way, and NEEDS help [Matt 21:28-32]. This is the key of the gospel: God gives to the needy through Jesus Christ, and He gives peace and power over sin; He gives Himself, help, and sufficiency. He gives what the soul needs, even imputed righteousness and the Spirit. He gives forgiveness and power to live rightly. He gives His fellowship and sweet presence. He gives and gives.

Thirdly, do you know your need? These people did not, so they missed out. He says of them, “You did not say, ‘It is hopeless;’ you found new life for your strength, and so you were not faint.” What about you? Are you thirsty, hungry, and is your soul unsatisfied? Have you found out that money and health are not enough, Judgment is coming, and God’s going to cast you into hell without a Mediator? Have you tried to answer for your sins, only to find out that the blood of Christ is the only sufficient offering? Have you failed in your own strength? You thought obeying God would be easy, after all, you are successful and determined, a zealous person, and properly motivated, but you’ve seen the stain of sin and plunged yourself into filthiness? Have you fallen farther than you’ve imagined and proved yourself unworthy? You thought that you were better than others, but now you know that you’ll perish in hell if one thing is left up to you? What about you? Do you need help? Are you helpless?

This is exactly the person that He came for, because only the weary can receive His rest. He doesn’t come to the self-sufficient. He waits until they are humbled, before grace will ever lift them up.

Fourthly, how does Christ make us thirsty? He pulls away the veil. He allows us to see reality. He takes the blinders off.

We see our works as filthy rags, God’s standard is too holy, and we need Christ more than life itself. We see our own efforts fail, and yet we see a promise. He doesn’t leave us to despair, but He warns us, boxes us in, and then strips away all that we have, until we can only see Christ. Families will not comfort us. Wealth will never change our burden. We could be healed of bodily trouble, but we still need a Savior. Our soul mourns and looks up to Christ. We come empty and helpless with nothing but faith, relying on Him, and trusting nothing of ourselves. We take His word as faithful and hope in His comfort. We are willing to obey.

Oh, the thirsty soul is blessed. How sweet it is to need Christ.

Fifthly, if we don’t need Him, then we will perish. The devil’s final work will be to bring you to hell. If successful, we’ll never cry out. We’ll think the preacher exaggerated, and say things like, “It’s not that serious,” and, “I’m good enough.” We’ll testify to God’s face that we don’t need to obey. We can live as we please and be saved. We’ll cover ourselves with a sheet that’s too short for us, a refuge of lies, and we won’t even care that God disapproves. We’ll have no fear in our hearts, and we’ll squander our souls, unless grace steps in. We’ll challenge God like Pharaoh, saying, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.”

At the bottom of the Red Sea Pharaoh knew the Lord, but it was too late [Ex 14:18]! He knew Him in power and justice, but he never tasted His mercy. This is the fate of the self-sufficient - eternal sufferings in the lake of fire, under the flood of His wrath. Children go to hell unprayed for, because parents are only concerned about earthly comforts. They never panted after their souls to obtain mercy. Oh, how deceitful the world, Satan, and the flesh of man truly is! They make the most needy creatures unthirsty for eternal life, forgiveness, and power over sin. They are thirsty, but they satisfy themselves in the putrid waters of this world, and the thirst is not quenched but unrecognized in its fullness. It is not needing Christ that destroys mankind, not Christ’s lack of sufficiency or willingness.