I quake with fear when I remember the times I turned off the television when preaching started. I am very thankful the Holy Spirit never stopped wooing me to the cross of repentance.  It was and is the best decision I ever made when I asked Jesus to stay.

Turned Away or Asked to Stay

When the two men were freed and the village learned what was done,
How the demons were expelled and drowned in the pigs, every last one,
I thought there would be a great reception to invite Jesus to stay.
But what a surprise to me when I discovered they sent Him away.
Why would they demand life to depart?
And to refuse the truth to enter their heart?
It makes no sense to me,
It is as the blind that refuses to see.
Go away they said to the Son of Man;
Surely they did not the request fully understand.
But there are many that even today do the same,
They misunderstand who Jesus is and why He came.
When they are confronted by the truth of His power and might;
When they are confronted by the Light,
They too demand Him to depart from their midst.
Some angrily even shake at Him their fist.
It is sad to think of the rejection Jesus endures each day;
It is fortunate He does not always listen and returns in hope
He is invited to stay.

John 3:16-18
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Matthew 8:34
And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.