Luke 5:27-28 "He went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi...and He said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed Him."
Divine Grace for us is the same, God's demands on us are the same, the Author of all that is heavenly and spiritual in us is the same, "Yesterday, today, and forever." Sin in us is the same as it was 6000 years ago, and we are still trying to cover ourselves with the same fig leaves. They would not cover then and will not cover now. All are dead in sin, alienated from God, bound in sin, until Heavenly Power is revealed to our soul, regenerating it after the Image of God.
Our Lord saw this Publican looking over his books, who sees Jesus approaching without knowing who He is. Christ did not just happen to pass that way, but He came on purpose to call and save a sinner "whose name was written in the Lamb's book of life from before the foundation of the world."
Matthew was one of Christ's sheep, who was to be called by grace from the darkness of unbelief and from the servitude of sin, into the light of faith and the liberty of holiness. This was "The fullness of time" for Matthew, the time for him to be savingly turned to God, and for effectual Grace to work in him when Christ said, "Follow Me."
When Christ speaks to a soul, Divine Grace lays hold on it, captivates the affections, and causes it to come to God. In regeneration the will of man is not forced but renewed. It turns to God. When Christ said to Matthew, "Follow Me," an invisible power accompained that Word to his heart. Grace willingly and effectually inclined him to follow the Lord that called him. He was not dragged but drawn, and being drawn, he ran. When the Lord moves on your heart, He will incline you to look to Christ alone. The soul that receives a glimpse of the goodness of God, the excellency of holiness, the greatness of the Redeemer's kindness, the fullness of His merit, the riches of the salvation purchased by Him, needs no force to love Him who is the Fountain of all good. Until then, you will look to THINGS.
What a picture of irresistible Grace. Matthew was a publican, a tax collector for a foreign government, considered by the Jews as a traitor to Israel. To see such a person worked on by a word, in such a way as to cause him leave all and follow Christ, shows that the work of conversion is the work of an omnipotent power. The grace and power by which mercy is shown to Matthew is the same grace and power used by the Spirit of God, to bring any person to Christ. When Christ said, "Follow Me" it was to life not a way of living. Christ says to every sinner He saves, "Follow Me!"
Has Christ ever spoken to your heart these words "Follow Me?" If He has, you follow Him. If you have "Left all to follow Him," keep looking to Him. Never take your eyes off of Christ. Even when a sense of your sin overwhelms you, let the blood of Christ which "Cleanses us from all sin," continue to be your only hope.