"
. . . And Ye Would Not!"James R. Davis
Ironically, salvation has been provided for every
person, but the majority of people are lost. (Matthew 7:13-14) Sinners
find it difficult to understand that God has provided for the expiation
of each person's sin and is not willing that those deserving of eternal
punishment should perish. (Ezekiel 18:32; 2 Peter 3:9) God's love encompasses
the whole world (John 3:16); full atonement has been made. God has allowed
him, who know no sin, to become sin for each of us. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Forgiveness has been provided for every sin that each man has committed
from the beginning of time to the coming of the Lord (1 John 2:2) But why
do the majority refuse to accept the invaluable gift of God's amazing grace
that is so freely given to all. (Romans 5:18)
Failure to Believe in God
Many have no difficulty believing in that for
which there is no evidence for faith. They accept spontaneous generation,
astrology, witchcraft, Ala, Buddha, or the power of the Nile River as fact,
while rejecting evidence for faith in the true living God. The Hebrew writer
said, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh
to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6) Therefore, those who reject faith
in God, reject the grace of God, which can save man's soul.
Failure to Be Responsible
The gospel is designed to save a person in his
lost condition, but many fail to understand their need of salvation. They
recognize that something is terribly wrong, but they refuse to accept personal
responsibility. We blame our diet, environment, or television for our behavior.
Sin is called everything but what it is. We suffer from idiosyncrasies,
neuroticism or psychoticism, but be it far from us to be sinful. A rejection
of personal responsibility causes a person to see no need of accepting
the gospel message of salvation. When salvation is preached, it is like
casting pearls before swine which are unable to discern between that which
is priceless and that which is worthless.
Failure to Recognize Personal Spiritual Need
Some fail to recognize their personal spiritual
needs. The Pharisee prayed, "God I thank thee, that I am not as other men
are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican, I fast
twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess." (Luke 18:11-12)
he put other people in one class and himself in another. He measured himself
by what others were doing; their faults blinded him to his own. He saw
only his strengths and other's weaknesses. He easily conceived of those
deserving of hell, but failed to recognize his own predicament. In failing
to recognize his own depravity, he saw no need in accepting God's amazing
Grace.
Failure to Understand A Person's Intrinsic
Value
We sing an old song, "Just as I am! Without one
plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that thou bidd'st me come
to thee." But some are so sensitive to their sinful condition that it is
difficult for them to understand that God will accept sinful man just as
he is. Many say, "Oh, if I could only live my life over." They think that
they would be able to make amends and therefore be acceptable to God. Jesus
tells of a person's intrinsic value in the parable of the lost coin. (Luke
15:8-10) The lost coin represents lost man. The woman seeking that, which
was lost, represents God's desire to find that which is lost. While that
coin was out of circulation it still retained its intrinsic value. Even
in a lost condition, a person's soul is still worth more than the whole
world. (Matthew 16:26) When Jesus gave his life upon the cross, he expressed
heaven's estimation of the intrinsic value of every lost man, woman, and
child. A person's past need not be relived. One must only understand their
intrinsic value and accept the graciousness of God.
Failure to Learn the Teaching of Christ
Our Lord taught what men must do in order to place
themselves in a position to receive the forgiveness that is so richly provided
for all. Christ set forth the terms of forgiveness in the New Testament,
but many fail to accept the teaching of God's Son. Preference is given
to some religious creed devised by mortals to the exclusion of the plain
teaching of God. Many take excruciating pains to sift through some religious
manual to educate themselves in a religion devised by mortals. They may
claim an inability to understand the Bible while refusing to put forth
the same effort to understand it. They are like the Jews who were zealous
toward God, but not according to knowledge. (Romans 10:1-3) Jesus said,
"But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments
of men." (Matthew 15:9) In rejecting the Bible they reject the means God
provided for man's reconciliation.
Hardness of Heart
God pleads with us to accept the terms of pardon,
but too many harden their hearts. It is not a matter of not knowing about
God and his will for their life, nor is it a result of not understanding
their need and their intrinsic value. They are like Balaam who loved the
wages of sin. (2 Peter 2:15) Their hearts are hardened and the gospel of
their salvation is rejected. The Hebrew writer said, "Take heed, brethren,
lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from
the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called today;
lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." (Hebrews
3:12-13)
Conclusion:
The lost cannot lay the blame for their lost condition
at God's throne; if we are lost we have only ourselves to blame. Forgiveness
is provided for all. (John 3:16; 1 John 2:2) John said, " . . . And whosoever
will let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17) When persons
reject salvation they judge themselves unworthy of everlasting life, contrary
to the wishes of Almighty God. (2 Peter 3:9) Jesus said, "O Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent
unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even
as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matthew
23:37)
