A friend emailed me this question:
In our nation and world, we see so many people who want a “good deal” on material things, such as holiday sales. They will line up and wait for hours to get desired things for a great deal. People will even wait for hours in a line to get to see their favorite music concert or other entertainment performance.
And yet, you and I know THE GREATEST offer is ETERNAL LIFE in the LORD JESUS CHRIST by faith alone in Him alone. He paid for it for us with His own shed blood atonement and all He went through, His perfect merit, and not ours, only His, can save us. He offers the human race total forgiveness of sin, an immortal body, and a mansion house in Heaven when He returns, eternal direct fellowship with Him, and escape from the eternal torment of Hell. And yet….so many resist and do all they can to never believe on Jesus and be saved.
Why is this, brother?
That is a great question. There are many answers from Scripture:
- Traditions and legalistic reading of the Bible keep people from faith in Christ (John 5:39-40).
- Having hard hearts hinders faith (Acts 28:25-29).
- Viewing the message of the cross as foolishness causes many to reject the gift (1 Cor 1:18).
- People blinded by the devil won’t come to faith unless God takes off the blinders (Luke 8:12; 2 Cor 4:4).
The bigger question is how anyone comes to faith. The answer is that God is drawing all (John 12:32; 16:7-11). Thus people can respond to the light God gives them. If they respond, say to the creation, He sends more light. If they accept that additional light, God gives them more truth about Him. Eventually, God opens the hearts of people that they might see the truth of the gospel and the promise of life and believe (Acts 16:14).
Of course, there is no merit in our response. We are recipients, not givers. We receive the free gift of everlasting life by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Still, it is amazing that anyone or anything could hinder people from crying out to God day in and day out to learn how they might spend eternity with Him. Everlasting life is such an amazing gift. Thank God for the free gift of everlasting life!
