October 4, 2016

Luke 16:31 NKJV - "But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead."

What will it take to convince some people?  You ever ask that question and just wonder what it will take for some people to accept the truth of God's Word and be willing to come to Christ?!  Our Daily Verse comes from the story Jesus shared of a certain rich man and a beggar named Lazarus.  Lazarus ended up in Paradise while the rich man was banished to the fires of hell.  In hell he called out to Abraham and asked him to send Lazarus back from the dead to convince his brothers not to end up where he was but to encourage them to turn to the Truth.  Abraham's response is our Daily Verse.  If a person will not listen to God's powerful and living Word, then nothing else, including somebody's resurrection will make them want to turn to Christ. 

Think back to Ahab on Mt. Carmel when he witnessed the miracle of God sending fire down from heaven to consume the sacrifice Elijah placed on the altar.  Read about that in 1 Kings 18.  Even though wicked King Ahab saw with his very own eyes the power of God over the foolish idol of Baal, Ahab still wouldn't turn to God and recognize Him as the rightful King of Israel.  What more could have been done to convince him?!

Think ahead to the Millennial reign of Christ over this earth as recorded in Revelation 19,20.  Note Revelation 20:7-9 where Satan will gather a numberless multitude of people to fight against Christ!  Where did those people come from?  They were among those who lived through the Millennium and saw the Living Christ rule in Jerusalem all that time, and still they wouldn't turn to Him as their Savior and Lord! 

What will it take to convince some people?  The heart of man is likened to a "stone" in Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26.  Many people are stubborn and determined to have their own way.  This is where Proverbs 14:12 is so true, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."

Thank God every day that you DID turn to Christ and He saved you!  That's God's grace and mercy!