If you’ve ever become discouraged because someone you care about seems totally disinterested in God, take heart. There are only two possible things going on in their life, and we can praise God in both circumstances.
1. There is no interest in things of God
This shouldn’t come as a surprise to us. We know that people without faith in Christ are alienated from God and enemies of his. (Romans 5:10) This built-in enmity is not something to lose any sleep over however, because God is the ultimate Enemy Exchanger!
Remember Saul on the road to Damascus? He hated Christians, and was personally persecuting Jesus. Yet in a moment, the unlimited power of God changed him into a willing servant, and committed follower of his former enemy.
True, your dear friend or beloved family member may seem like a hopeless case, but there is no one beyond the reach of our Mighty God! And he’s not just powerful, he can be magnificently persuasive!
2. There’s an interest because God is drawing them
Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him…” (John 6:44), and that included Saul. We have no way of knowing what was going on inside the soul of this man as he railed against the early church. His heart could have been as hard the moment Jesus spoke to him, as it was the day he watched Stephen being stoned to death.
It’s equally possible though, that he could have been feeling the strong arms of God drawing him ever closer to the Savior he sought to persecute. It is not uncommon for people to resist the change God is bringing about, especially when they begin to sense that the battle is being lost.
Though everyone doesn’t act like Paul when they are being drawn, many do seem frustrated or upset during this process. For instance, you might find your friends…
- Withdrawing from your friendship.
- Being fearful to relinquish previous beliefs.
- Refusing your invitation to church.
- Telling you to drop the religious talk
If this happens, don’t despair. Hang in there, and keep loving them…perhaps you’ll see God pulling them toward a great salvation!
Bottom Line
The same power that raised Christ from the dead, and the incomparable ability to turn even the hardest heart soft, are available to God for the task of reaching your friend or family member, who is resisting His message of grace.
