Have you ever wondered why so many reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ? The message is quite compelling: believe and have life everlasting. Such an idea fulfills a basic instinctual impulse of self-preservation, yet those willing to accept this offer are dwindling. How can this be? If it were a matter of mere choice, why would so many prefer to forgo the offer of eternal bliss? There must be something to it that makes it more difficult than most understand. In fact, there is.
The answer is found in the Word of God. Man has a "natural" way of living, and it is one that excludes the Creator completely. The Apostle Paul addressed this, writing, “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” (Romans 1:21-23)
Such words are not tolerated well in our politically correct society. Yet, Paul goes further, stating, “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:7-8) Restating this in today’s language would result in something close to this: man is by nature an enemy of God, wants nothing to do with God, and in and of him/herself does not have the ability to change and please God. Ouch. People reject the Gospel because they cannot do otherwise.
How does this reconcile itself to the modern evangelist who says repentance is nothing more than deciding you are going in the wrong direction, deciding to turn around and place his/her faith in Jesus Christ? Before answering, take another look at the Scriptures cited above. If you are intellectually honest, you will conclude that there is no reconciliation. It cannot be done. It is against man’s very nature.
We are left with the sad realization that accepting God’s offer is beyond our grasp. This does not mean we are doomed to eternal punishment, however, for what we cannot do in and of ourselves, God has already done! Scripture gives us this marvelous news, as Paul writes again, “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love,” (Ephesians 1:4) and “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers,” (Romans 8:29) and again, “And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” (Romans 8:30)
In our time of easy-believism, we tend to overlook this part of the marvelous Gospel. Jesus died for us and through Him we have the gift of grace. But, before the foundations of the world were laid, God had determined, in accordance with His Own Divine and Sovereign will, to work a change in the hearts of those who were by nature His enemies. On your own, you would reject Him, but we are not left alone!
Do you feel a need for Christ today? If so, He has placed that desire in you. It was put there before you were even born. It won’t go away until you respond and accept Him. Why wait? All you need do is tell Him you no longer want to be a rebel, you are genuinely sorry for your sins and rebellion, ask for forgiveness through Jesus Christ, and accept the gift of faith and grace. If you feel the need, the work has been done on your behalf, long, long and longer ago. You can accept the Gospel and embrace it. Won’t you start enjoying Him today?
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