And no doubt, when folks respond in such a manner, I like to think they are genuinely sincere. But that is between them and God. I have though, been around long enough to witness that those ‘emotionally inspired decisions’ are often short lived for a host of reasons.
It is another thing though, to be presented with information, ALL the information, and then one makes an informed decision based on what they have learned. Many people prefer this route, especially when it comes to making major medical decisions or even perhaps what to do when a storm or hurricane is bearing down and life and death are on the line depending on how they ‘decide’.
Turning one’s life over to God however, would fall somewhere in-between an emotional response and an intellectual decision. There is this ‘spiritual’ component that plays a role as well. Jesus put it this way: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him;” (John 6:44) He also told His disciples that “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain…” (John 15:16)
Now on the surface, that sounds problematic and creates some theological speed bumps. Many could, and have, taken the view that it is totally out of their hands and ‘if they are lucky enough to be chosen by God’, then so be it. They’ll just live their life until they ‘get picked’ and if they do become a part of that elite group of ‘the chosen’, then they will act accordingly and deal with whatever changes may occur, then.
So once again, can we just go examine the word and try to connect some dots here today? As previously stated, I’m not here to engage in a theological sword fight. I just believe there are a bunch of verses we have either overlooked or been blind to. I’ll share the word and you and the Holy Spirit can work all that out, agreed? :- ) As they say: “The More You Know”, right?
First of all, God’s love for humanity is Unconditional. But His promises are not. They are, in fact, very conditional. This is the first point that many stumble over and get confused on. And contrary to popular opinion, we are NOT…’all God’s children’, even though we were all created by Him. ( 1 John 3:10; John 8:42-47; John 1:12; Romans 8:14) Those would be very good verses to look up and read.
We are told by Peter that God is ‘long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Pet 3:9) Paul echoes this truth in his letter to Timothy saying that God our savior “desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” ( 1 Tim 2:4). And of course, we are quite familiar with John 3:16 that declares to all who have ears to hear that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Yet, in spite of this unconditional love that God has for us all, not everyone will be ‘saved’. But it won’t be because God did not provide a way to be saved or rescued, nor because He willed it differently. We already KNOW from His word He wants ALL saved.
So where is the disconnect? I believe that scripture tells us exactly why that is. The ‘god of this age/world has blinded those who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel …should shine on them.” (2 Cor 4:4) And Paul says in the preceding verse that if the gospel is veiled or hidden, it is veiled to those who are perishing.”
We also know from John 3:19-20 that many will just flat out refuse to ‘come to the light’ because they ‘love the darkness more’ and their deeds are evil. That is a sobering and sad reality we just have to accept. Not a thing you or I can do about that. Reminds me of those stubborn old folks who live on the coast and are told they have Zero chance of surviving the Cat. 5 hurricane that is bearing down on them. We hear about them regularly on the news.
Which brings me to this point.
There is a ‘spiritual category 5’ storm bearing down on us that we are oblivious to, just like they were in the days of Noah. ( Matt 24:38-39) In fact I would go as far to say it is already here but we’ve been blinded to it and/or have been looking in the wrong direction. While many get consumed with ‘natural signs’ they hear about in the news, it is a truly spiritual storm that is being unleashed that scripture teaches those who are being carried away or burned up or drowning in it, don’t even recognize what is happening. (Isa 42:24-25; Hosea 7:9; Daniel 12:10; Matt. 24:39) Those verses, too…go read and mark!
I am here today to tell you that there is only ‘One Ark’ that has been made available that will ‘survive’ this onslaught of destruction. Meanwhile when you look over the landscape, there are countless ‘little arks’ all selling a different ‘ticket’ to board their ships. Sort of like what Paul warned about with all the ‘other gospels and other Jesus’s out there. (2 Cor 11:3-4)
I’m also here to tell you that the situation is much more serious than what we’ve been led to believe. Whether it is because of deception or because we have fallen asleep, both tragic conditions that scripture indicates would be the condition of so many ‘believers’ in the last days, (Matt 25 and 2 Thess. 2:3) people need to sit up and take notice.
Again, allow me to point you to two sobering passages of warning we don’t hear taught much. I’ve referred to both of them in the past. Luke 13:1-5, Jesus is asked about the destruction of several groups of people that came about by tragic circumstances. Jesus made it quite clear that those who ‘suffered such things’ were no worse sinners than anyone else’. Twice, He makes this point. Then He follows up with this word of warning…again, repeating it twice: “I tell you unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” It’s kind of like watching a tsunami come in on a beach and sweep people away while you think you are standing safely on a second story balcony. But unless you are ‘in the ark’ you stand a chance either. ( 1Cor 10:12)
The other passage is in Acts 3. Peter has quite the audience after a lame beggar was miraculously healed in front of all to see. And Peter is not out there asking folks to come visit their church carnival and eat free hot dogs so they can hear about how God loves them and has a wonderful plan for their lives if they will join the church.
Peter is telling them to ‘Repent and be converted’, promising them if they do that they will experience a refreshing from the presence of the Lord. (19,26) It’s an invitation to basically ‘get in the ark’ or ‘in Christ’ which has some pretty nice benefits like an abundance of peace, and joy, and divine protection and provision. But you have to turn with all your heart. And here again, is the sobering ‘or else’ consequences. “Every soul who will not hear that Prophet (Jesus) shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.” (23)
There is only one ark. And you can be sure of this: You are not getting on it unless you are willing to ‘lay down your life’ and ‘forsake all’. And it’s not earthly possessions and people and jobs He is asking you to lay down. It is your old selfish, sinful flesh nature. People might be able to sneak things past TSA at the airport, but you won’t hide anything from the Holy Spirit. Just ask Ananias and his wife Sapphira in Acts 5.
You might be asking yourself by this point…”IF all this is as serious as I make it out to be, then why am I not hearing similar things where I go to church?” That would be a great question to ask whoever is delivering messages from your church pulpit regularly.
You might liken it to going to five different weather radar apps on your phone, and four of the five suggest the weather is just fine; but that fifth one is showing a huge storm bearing down.
“And at midnight a cry was heard: Behold, the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him!” (Matt 25:6)
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