From what I read in the Scriptures and see as I look around me, many today have already settled their fate with God and chosen who they will follow, from the murderous sexual deviant to the self-righteous religious snob. The god of this world is Satan, and their soul is his.
“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Corinthians 4:4)
Jesus spoke of these very people and contrasted those of Satan with those who belong to Him.
“44For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.45So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! 46Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.”48The people retorted, “You Samaritan devil! Didn’t we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?” (John 8:44-48 NLT)
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” (John 10:27)
“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (John 10:16)
Millions, perhaps billions, of people on this earth today will never know the love of Jesus in their hearts. They are the children of their father the devil, and love the evil things that come from him. Is that to say they cannot be born again in Jesus Christ? For many the answer is “yes” because God has given them up. For some the answer is “no” because even a few of the Pharisees were saved, but then most were not.
Understand that we cannot look at anyone and determine if they can or cannot be saved. Only God knows who He “gave up” and who He will draw to Him. The Apostle Paul is a good example. He was a murderer, but the Lord saved him. He did not “give him up.”
Notice these passages (all emphasis are mine):
“And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see.” (2 Chronicles 30:7)
“So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.” (Psalms 81:12)
“Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?” (Acts 7:42)
“Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:” (Romans 1:24)
“For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:” (Romans 1:26)
God gave them up to (1) desolation, (2) the lust of their own heart, (3) the worship of false gods, (4) uncleanness, and (5) vile affections. Let the unsaved man not think he can trample the grace of God by following Satan, and then “settle up” with God at his leisure. He will eventually be drawn into the Devil’s snare so tightly, there will be no escape. He will “settle up” with God, but not in the way he thinks.
Where does God draw the line? Many who are lost may think they can do as a child who pushes his parents right to the line and then backs off and everything is okay again. Again, where is the line with God? No one knows but God.
“6Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7)
Many people today are just pure evil. They are children of the Devil, and they are growing in numbers. Their real nature may show itself in heinous criminal acts, and/or it may show itself in self-made religious acts of false piety. The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy giving us a clear picture of what these children of hell will be like (2 Timothy 3:1-7).
There have always been evil men, but not on the scale of today. Even common decency has been brushed aside for every perverted act that can come from an evil heart. I can remember well the days when most of those who were not saved would still show respect to others and live a good life. They were lost, but they were good citizens.
If you do not know Jesus Christ has your personal Savior, you may think you’re getting by in your rebellion toward God. You are actually “pushing the envelope” so to speak, and allowing the father of lies to deceive you. The Lord God may at any time give you up to desolation, and the lust of your own heart, the worship of your false gods, your uncleanness, or your vile affections. Then where will you be? You will be in Satan’s family tree, and doomed to spend eternity with your father, the Devil, in the Lake of Fire.
Most of mankind today takes sin lightly. Some think no more of murdering someone than tying their shoe laces. Some think no more of promiscuous and perverted sex than dining out. Some think no more of lying, cheating, and stealing than brushing their teeth. They have lost their conscience. God gave them up.
“Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron [emphasis mine];” (1 Timothy 4:2)
If you haven’t yet lost your conscience, come to Jesus now while you can. Tomorrow may be too late.
Grant Phillips