20/05/2022 - THE SINNER’S FUTILE PRAYER

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That say, “Let Him make speed and hasten His work, That we may see it; And let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come, That we may know it.” Isaiah 5:19

The petulance of those who do not know the Lord is enormous. But God’s patience is greater than such insolence. The lost have no idea how good and great God’s mercy is, thus, they suffer for that. Christ’s purpose is to save everyone the Father gives Him. For this, He waits until the last chance:  while it is said:“ Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion” (Hebrews 3:15). The wise still seek Him and find Him!

God is not guided by any of our attitudes. However, He strives, in His love, to show us that He desires our welfare. The Lord knows the eternal suffering will befall anyone who is not born again. That is why He does everything He can to make us wake up and take our place in Christ. Now, Jesus paid for our sins, and once we have accepted Him as Savior, we will be free from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

No one will maintain contact with God if it is not through Christ. The Jews did not want to believe in Jesus, despite the wonders He worked in the sick and in nature, and the revelation of the Word. Even Thomas, one of the disciples who was always in doubt, said: “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” (John 14:5). Faced with this inquiry, the Master answered: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6). He is everything!

The work of redemption of mankind began right after the fall of the first couple in the Garden of Eden. Then it continued for thousands of years, until the Savior came and was killed on Calvary. When He saw all the sin of the world upon Himself, He shouted: It is finished (John 19:30). He faced the powers of hell on the cross, where He fought and conquered Satan and his demons, stripping them of all authority (Colossians 2:15).

The wicked man challenges the Lord, saying to Him: “Finish the work that we may see You.” These words lack fear. But no one will see the light except through the Lord (Psalm 36:9). We must preach the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit, so that people will not only behold the divine operation and light, but also understand Who He is. As far as the saved are concerned, the divine work will be finished when Jesus comes for His Church! (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). Maranatha! (1 Corinthians 16.22).

God has already drawn nearer to man than is necessary, but man is as unstable as water. Because of this instability, no matter how much he sees the heavenly operations, due to lack of sincerity, man will not believe in Jesus. Even if the mountains were to move, because of someone’s prayer, and be cast into the middle of the sea, some would still doubt. If it is not by the action of the Spirit, no one will come to the Lord (John 6:44). The door is open, but few enter through it. Come!

The counsel of the Holy One of Israel has already come and they did to Him whatever they wanted, including killing Him on the cross. Today, those who are sincere confess that by the preaching of the Word – they understand the love of God and how to act in order to be blessed instead of condemned. What will you say to the Most High when He visits you? Will you accept or reject the Lord?

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares