If you have been a Christian any amount of time you have probably been heartbroken when someone you love is consistently living in rebellion or outright hostility towards God. You have prayed over them, pleaded with God, and soaked your pillow with tears. Surely if God revealed Himself, they would have their own “road to Damascus” moment and repent, right? After all who can stand before the Lord Almighty?
This line of thinking can bring us down different roads. One person might become angry with God, convinced He must not love our loved one as much as we do. If He did, they would be saved! A different person might be afraid to explore the question, why not? Who are we to question? Why isn’t God answering my prayers? Is it me? Is it something I’m not doing?
Both of these are detrimental to our faith. God did not call us to a blind faith. He did not call us to lean on our own understanding. He is not helpless waiting for us to do or say just the right thing. But questions like this that go unanswered can slowly chip away at our faith, producing cracks in our foundation. Soon those cracks can produce footholds and before long we find ourselves doubting the goodness of God.
This question can be found among those who have been believers for years and those who are recently saved. It can be found adults, and among children. Often the body of believers dismisses the importance of answering these questions of the young, both in spirit and in age. This needs to change. We need not be afraid of these questions or dismiss them as unimportant.
One only needs to read the Bible to see this is the continual story of man. In the gospels we read how God walked among us, yet even those who came face to face with the son of God hated Him, rejected Him and killed Him. They were in a constant state of rebellion against God, even when face to face with Him.
The heart of man is an interesting thing. We tend to think that if others knew God the way we do, they would surely change. But is this really the case? What softens one persons heart hardens another. Conviction is a great example of this. The law of God is written on our heart. We are all convicted in our life, but how someone responds to conviction varies. One person, when face to face with their sin, is convicted. They repent and seek reconciliation with God. Another when faced with conviction become angry, rebellious and resentful. They do not seek reconciliation with God and instead dig their heels in, hardening their heart. Gods love, grace and forgiveness was extended to both, but they choose to respond differently.
The Israelites were in captivity in Egypt. Exodus 4:21b says “… I will harden his [Pharaoh] heart, so that he will not let the people go” Exodus 8:32 says “But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go.” As you read through Exodus you see it switch from God hardened his heart, to Pharaoh hardened his heart. This is a great illustration of how we respond differently to God.
God, by His nature, hardened the heart of one who was unrepentant. Sometimes we might fool ourselves into thinking that if they only believed God existed or saw a miraculous sign, that would be enough to drive them to repentance. It’s import to remember “…even the demons believe and shutter.” (James 2:19) The demons don’t doubt Gods existence. They know who He is, yet they are in constant rebellion against God. Knowledge of God is not enough. Romans 1:21 says “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
God loves our loved ones more than we are capable of. God isn’t keeping them from salvation, rather it their own rejection of God that keeps them captive.
This doesn’t mean you are without hope! Those that come to salvation do so at many different ages and stages of life. Believers have all been on the other side, in rebellion. It can take time. Sometimes a lifetime. If someone we love passes without coming to repentance we can rest assured that God already knew and it comes as no surprise. Everything was done to bring that person to repentance.
Revelation 3:20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” God is knocking on the door of their heart. He desires that none should perish. (1 Peter 3:9) The Lord is not dependent on us, powerless to reach people without our exact right words or actions. Sharing the gospel is the great commission and we are blessed in spirit when we do. But the Holy Spirit will reach those who will respond and He knows when, or if they will. Paul persecuted the church long before his road to Damascus moment.
So today as someone is heavy on your heart, pray for them and also for you. If you are angry when it looks to you God isn’t moving, confess that to Him. Confess your hearts attitude that you know better than God on how to reach people. If you are immobilized with fear confess that to Him. Recognize your actions or lack of perfect speech isn’t what is holding them back. May God grant you peace and understanding as you continue to grow in Him.
This Old Nest 