Fail To See

If you want to give it all you've got, Jesus replied, go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me. That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crest-fallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn't bear to let go. Matthew 19:21,22 (The Message)

Like so many, I have family and close friends who are unsaved. For whatever reason, they have so far failed to see the hope in Jesus. To some, I have talked openly about my faith, and how it has profoundly changed my life. With others, I have taken a less direct approach (okay, I am scared to share), but that doesn't mean they don't know what I believe. Mostly, I tend to blame myself for their refusal to accept Christ. While I know I could witness more aggressively or share a bit more openly with them, I cannot in my power make them believe. I always think of this passage when I pray for those around me who are non-believers. The man in this story (which starts in verse 16) talked to Christ! He got the truth straight from the horse's mouth, and still didn't see the hope. Some people just won't look past their possessions (in this young man's case) or their pride or their hurts to see what hope, what freedom, they could experience in Christ. Some have seen Jesus personally and still can't see the Light!

Acts 17:16-34 shares a similar situation when Paul visits Athens. A city known today for free-thinking, I think Paul thought the open-mindedness of the people there would be an advantage. Even though he was given opportunity to speak, many laughed at him and only a few converted to Christianity. We can count those successes, but Paul walked in and out of the city almost uneventfully. This starkly contrasts with other experiences Paul had, when he would be brutally beaten (among other things) and had to be snuck in and out of cities, leaving behind converts and also disciples to care for the new Christians (Acts 14:21-22)

My point is this: for whatever reason, some people cannot wake up to Jesus. They have no desire to travel on that path. It doesn't make you or me a failure. It also doesn't mean we give up, quit praying or quit talking to the person. We are responsible for presenting the gospel to all people, but it is not up to us to make them accept it. We only fail when we don't share it, not when it is rejected. Jesus understood that. Paul understood that. Now we know, too. As frustrating as it can be, as heartbreaking as it sometimes is, we are not in control of others' salvation, we are the tool that is sometimes, and sometimes not, used.

God, be with our friends and family that have not accepted Your gift of salvation. Use us as You will. Amen.

Nikki Hamsher