Proverbs 29:1 A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes
will suddenly be destroyed – without remedy.

The sad thing is, someone immediately came to mind when I read this verse. The ability to accept correction is a lifesaver! This of course applies on the spiritual level as well. God is enormously patient with us and gives us many opportunities to repent, but those opportunities are not unlimited. Some people who know that the Gospel is true still love their sin so much that they say, “I’ll repent on my deathbed.” They probably won’t have a conscious deathbed to use for that purpose! Actually, a heart that says that isn’t really repentant in the first place. I think this is related to the feature of human psychology I mentioned a couple of days ago, that we have great difficulty imagining our own future state. If we think we’re “getting by with stuff” now, we think we’ll be able to keep doing so indefinitely. What we don’t realize is that we’re really not “getting by with” anything! There is nothing God doesn’t see, and He knows full well that the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23) This isn’t Him being mean, it’s a matter of natural law, just like the law of gravity. Since He doesn’t want anyone to perish, (2 Peter 3:9) He gives us opportunities to recognize our sin and repent. What this verse is talking about is those who are willfully blind to their own sin.

I am not to write anyone off, and I must remember that God is more grieved than I am when someone chooses destruction, but I must also realize that not everyone is going to accept God’s offer of salvation. I am to make the Gospel as accessible as possible, speaking the truth in love, but remember that each person is individually responsible before God. I can’t repent for someone else, any more than they could repent for me. That said, I need to be careful that my own heart is tender before God, recognizing and accepting His rebukes and correction. It is very easy for a pastor to get caught up with how other people need to repent and overlook their own sins. I must not do that!

Father, thank You for the many opportunities You give me for sharing the Gospel. Thank You for the man who came to church yesterday, insisting he had no interest in religion but, when the conversation came around to it, confessing deep emotional wounds. I ask for more opportunities with him, and wisdom to communicate Your grace and love to him in ways he can receive it. Thank You for the natural connection I have with him through our mutual love for photography. I pray that I would not miss any of the appointments You have for me, but would be fully useful to You in drawing many to repentance and faith, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!