Flirting With Disaster

Flirting With Disaster
Blinded by The Light

Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." John 12:35-36 (NKJV)


It's so easy to look back in the Bible and to see those who made critical errors and to speculate as to how we would have handled that particular situation.  For instance, take Jonah; this guy was willing to forego God's instruction, even though he knew he would be sinning against God.  He went in the complete opposite direction that God had instructed him to go, and in the course of his disobedience he ended up being tossed overboard from a sailing vessel and being swallowed by a very large fish.

You'd think that he would have figured out that his way wasn't right, and would have repented, never to second guess the way God would do things, but this wasn't exactly the case.  God did give him a second chance and Jonah did make his way to Nineveh to deliver the message God intended.  

But, again, after reading this, I cannot believe the way Jonah handled the situation after being given another chance.  And yet, Jonah wasnt alone, as many have done this and many continue to do this.

We can flash forward almost 1000-years to the time of Jesus Christ.  The scriptures above in John 12 reflect that same rebellious attitude in mankind, and again, they are choosing not to accept God's way, will or purpose for their lives.  Jesus is telling them that He wont be around much longer, and soon He will be gone.  And so He is urging them to walk in His ways, otherwise the ways of the enemy will eventually rule your life.  He is telling them that if they would accept Him, and if they would walk in His ways, and abide in these ways, they will become sons of light (Children of God).

We continue this message and offer in the Great Commission as we abide in God's plan for our lives.  We tell others about the saving light of Jesus Christ, and about the blinding darkness of the devil and his emissaries.  And yet, just as it was in Jesus' day, there are those who refuse to hear this message, and they continue to follow their own selfish desires in an attempt to meet their needs and desires apart from God's perfect plan and provision.

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:5, 8 (NKJV)

Some might think that the Lord is slack on His promise of judgment when speaking of those who obviously dont want a relationship with them.  But I would say to those who are not accepting Him, "The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent' (See 2Peter 3:9).

Q:    But how many times will God allow someone to hear the Gospel message before it is too late?

A:    The truth is that no one knows that answer, but we can see that there is a time when this occurs.

In fact, it's downright scary to see this transition.  You see God is faithful to everyone, and everyone will get a chance. They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God (See Rom 1:19-20).  They've seen God's signs, but some because of pride, will just plain not accept.  

But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them. John 12:37-39 (NKJV)


And eventually because they've continued to freely choose not to believe, they eventually cannot believe, because God firms up their decision within their hearts and He then blinds their eyes and hardens their hearts. And that is scary!

Maybe now you can relate to the many times you've spoken about the love of Jesus to a family member or a friend, and they simply look at you and smile.  

Hey Christian, maybe its not too late for those people in your life, maybe there's still another chance.  But I wouldn't have a problem showing these people the scriptures about what happens to those who continue to say, "No thanks," when being given a chance to believe.  And I wouldn't have a problem telling them that they're flirting with disaster.

After all, God had pronounced judgment on Nineveh, and that is what the message was that Jonah brought to them.  They weren't offered another chance, they had used them up.  And yet we can see, that they repented nonetheless, and God honored that, and He spared them.  What an awesome God we serve!

STUDY QUESTiON: What can we learn from the scriptures above with respect to our being given opportunities to believe and abide in Jesus?

PERSONAL INVENTORY: Do you know someone who is continually saying, "No Thanks!" to the offer of forgiveness of his or her sins, and to a loving relationship with Jesus Christ?

APPLICATION: Start to pray for those who you see refusing God's offer.  Lift them up daily and ask the Lord to remove the veil from their hearts, and the blinders from their eyes.