ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE DAY

Can't See and Won't Hear

Romans 11:7-8

What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened, as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear, to this very day."

 

 

Don't think for a minute this condition is reserved only for the Jews who did not recognize Jesus as Messiah -- it is true for any people (including Americans) who do not receive Him as Lord and Savior.
I just returned from a medical/evangelical mission to Nepal -- my third one in fact. Although over 300 lives were brought into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, my heart is still troubled by the hundreds who were not. Our passage today could easily have been written about these same Nepalese people who weren't saved: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear." Sometimes it disturbs me greatly that everyone does not experience the same joy and freedom as I do through my personal relationship with Jesus. After all, He is God's greatest gift of all time. It's also a message I intend to share with everyone I meet for the rest of my life. However, some people just can't see and won't listen -- no matter how convincing the testimony or evidence might be -- their minds are closed to God's eternal message.

 

 

Is it cruel of God to blind people to the eternal message? I don't think so because God only blinds those who want to be blinded. God says to mankind, "If you don't want to see Me you won't." The choice represents God's gift of freewill to humanity. It is one of the reasons we can witness for hours to someone who is not called, only to realize they just don't get it. Then should we only witness to those called? But how would we know? I'm not sure, so I just continue to witness to everyone I meet. One thing I have learned is to not spend my time and energy, day after day, with people who are blinded.

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