Treasures New and Old

Will God Strive With Man Forever?

How long does the Holy Spirit “strive” with man? Consider the following verses:

Acts 28:23-29:

And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.

Genesis 6:3: “And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years” (bold added).

Psalms 14:1: “. . . The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.”

Psalms 53:1: “. . . The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.”

Romans 1:24: “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts . . .” (bold added).

Romans 1:26: “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections . . .” (bold added).

Romans 1:28: “God gave them over to a reprobate mind . . .” (bold added).

In both Psalm 14 and 53 the Hebrew doesn’t have the words there is which is why the King James has those words in italics. They actually say, “The fool hath said in his heart, no God.” Which can mean potentially three things: (1) There is no God – I don’t believe in Him; or (2) There may be a God, but not in my life – I will do what I want; (3) I am telling God NO to what He wants in my life – I am my own boss and I reject His authority over me. All positions are bad, but the last position may be the worse. To know that there is a God – that He is just and holy and demands authority in your life and to knowingly reject Him results in God giving you up to greater and greater sin, despair, and bondage, and it may end up in a person dying without the finished redemptive work of Christ applying against his account.

There came a point when God left the Jews as a people and turned to the Gentiles with the gospel. There comes a point in an individual’s life when He stops striving with that individual and simply lets them go. Stubborn, unrepentant, rebellious, disobedient, prideful, in bondage but not believing it, dull of understanding, without perception, and a gross heart: one incapable of true love, but is driven by lust and physical pleasure.

Although there is always hope, the statistics are a stark reality that it will take a special intervention of God’s merciful hand to reach a committed sinner and scornful fool. Now is the time to give your whole life over to Christ – now is the time to stop saying, “NO GOD!” Don’t get left behind and separated from God’s grace.

When does God stop striving with men? At different times in each man’s life. Have you crossed the line? Why take the chance? Give your whole heart to Christ now and start living a fuller life.

May God bless you all!

Bro. Joe

Privacy Policy