Cogs, another meaning!
If a cog is missing from a gearbox or clock the device will cease to work. This acronym is a simple reminder of what the essential Christian message consists of.
Come to Jesus - personally respond to his call
Openly acknowledge Jesus - he now rules your life
Go out for Jesus - serve him for the rest of your life.
Come to Jesus
Come” is a profoundly important word in the New Testament. It’s more than just an invitation — it’s often a call to follow, to receive grace, to enter the Kingdom, or to draw near to Jesus. Both Jesus and His apostles use it with deep spiritual significance.
Jesus repeatedly asked people to come and follow him:
It is a call to Discipleship
“Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19
This is the first major invitation Jesus gives it is not to accept a set of doctrines but a call to follow him in service.
It is a call to Rest
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
A beautiful invitation to the weary — to find rest and joy in Him, not through religious effort.
It is a call to a future Inheritance
“Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you…”Matthew 25:34
There is no future heaven for those who refuse to come to Jesus. When we are personal followers of Jesus we are given a deep seated security and peace. He will take us safely to himself, whatever life throws at us.
It is therefore no surprise that the Bible ends with this appeal to come back to a personal relationship with Jesus. This is the message of both god and his church:
“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” Revelation 22:17
Jesus is going to return to this earth. He has promised:
“Yes, I am coming soon.” Revelation 22:20
To this, those who are his respond:
“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20
Those who refuse to come to Christ are rejecting eternal salvation:
“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3:18
Openly acknowledge Jesus
The Bible is very clear that openly acknowledging Jesus as Lord is essential for salvation. The clearest and most direct place is:
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9–10
Confessing Jesus as my Lord means that private intellectual assent is not enough to be sure of salvation - there must be a repeated public declaration that the risen Christ, who rules this universe and world, is my Lord and Saviour..
Jesus said the same:
“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32–33
Jesus clearly emphasises the need for open allegiance to Him. Today there are many who seem to be ashamed of Jesus and Jesus says about them:
“Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:26
The message is clear, God wants every Christian to :
“ . . . confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:11
The apostle John confirms that open acknowledgement of Jesus is intimately associated to a relationship with God.
“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” 1 John 4:15
Yes — the Bible teaches that salvation involves publicly acknowledging Jesus as Lord. Not as a work that earns salvation, but as the natural, obedient response of a believing heart.
“Believe in your heart. Confess with your mouth. And you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
Go out and live for Jesus
God’s people are not called to passivity, but to mission, obedience, and witness — and when we are committed to serving him in this way he promises that he will be with us.
In the Great Commission Jesus said:
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19–20
An elderly West Indian preacher, preaching on this passage from the Authorised version which reads,
“Therefore go and make disciples . . . And Lo, I am with you always. . . .”
He astutely said,
“No go - No lo!”
This has always been God’s message to his people. When God commissioned Moses at the burning bush in the land of Midian, he was reassured:
“So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said, “Who am I…?” And God said, “I will be with you.” Exodus 3:10–12
When Joshua faced the difficult prospect of entering the Promised Land God promised him:
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
God’s presence is tied to Joshua’s obedience to going forward to serve him in faith.
When Gideon was called on to free God’s people from the Midianites he was sceptical about his ability to do this.
“The Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in the strength you have and save Israel… Am I not sending you?’” . . . And the Lord said, “I will be with you.” Judges 6:14,16
Again, “go” is paired with “I will be with you.” This promise of Almighty God remains true for all who are committed to serve God.
BVP
