Willful Ignorance

But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people, until there was no remedy.  ~2 Chronicles 36:16


Over the years I have shared the Gospel with thousands of people and the vast majority of them rejected the Good News. Some of those lost souls did so acknowledging their sin, God's judgment, and the reality of hell. Although there are many different reasons given why people reject Jesus as Lord and Savior, I believe there is a common thread tying them all together. The unsaved remain unsaved because they do not know God.

In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”  ~Psalm 10:4

People who reject God and the truths found in His Word, all share that common trait; they do not know Him. In fact, knowing God or understanding His truth is nowhere on their list of things-to-do. People may know of God and even acknowledge His existence, but their actions and rejection of the Gospel betray their self willed ignorance of Who He really is.

He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”  ~Psalm 10:11

The most frustrating witnessing encounters I have had are with those people who will acknowledge God and agree with everything the Scripture says, yet reject Christ. The reason they give always reveals the "god" they know is not God Almighty revealed in the Bible and the person of Jesus Christ. Even if you give them biblical proof their concept of God is in error, they stubbornly cling to their own "god". It is evident their change of mind and heart can only come from divine intervention.

All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.  ~Matthew 11:27

Only by God's sovereign power can anyone come to know Him in a saving way. Scripture reveals that mankind rejects the knowledge of God and seeks to usurp His rule over creation. All of us have bought the lie that we can be God and we need not subject ourselves to anyone else. How merciful that Jesus Christ reveals God to even one sinner. The promise that was given to those who know God and seek Him will not be forsaken.

And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.  ~Psalm 9:10