HEAR AND BE PERSUADED UNTO SALVATION (PART 1)
TEXT:
"And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." (Luke 16 verse 31, King James Version).
The Scripture reading for today is taken from the story of the rich man and the poverty stricken Lazarus in the Book of Luke 16 verses 19 to 31. The Bible says that they both died. The rich man found himself in hell and being in torment, he begged that Abraham should send Lazarus back to earth to warn his five brethren "that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.". There upon, "Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” (Luke 16 verses 28 to 31).
It is good that we understand that the "Moses and the prophets" alluded to by Abraham stood for the Law and the Prophets which was God's basis for salvation at the time in question. That the rich man found himself in hell was to mean that while he lived here on earth, he didn't hear "Moses and the prophets". In other words, he lived his life on earth without having eternity in view. He was one that never gave serious considerations to the teachings of God on the salvation of his soul.
Evidently, he knew that his five brethren on earth were walking on the same course he was while he lived on earth. They weren't equally paying attention to "Moses and the prophets", and except someone rose from the dead to testify to them, they'd not repent and would equally end up in hell like him. "And he (Abraham) said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." (Luke 16 verse 31, emphasis added).
How true and correct is Abraham's assertion! Despite the fact that the Lord Jesus resurrected from the dead over two thousand years ago and returned to earth to testify to fallen humanity about the "grace of God that bringeth salvation ... to all men," (see Titus 2 verse 11), they have remained largely unrepentant and unpersuaded.
I have often wondered why it took me such a long while before I eventually got persuaded to be saved. I've come to discover that the same reason for my being non- persuadable in regards to my salvation is responsible for why many aren't saved today.
The major reason for this is that God and the natural man have never been on the same page as far as spiritual things are concerned. This is so because "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1st Corinthians 2 verse 14).
But why is this so? Chiefly because "as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts", says God in Isaiah 55 verse 9. Again, in 1st Corinthians 1 verse 25, the Bible says that "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men;" it has been difficult for men to understand the ways and the thoughts of God. This accounts for why "the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;". As the Scripture says, because it has "pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (see 1st Corinthians 1 verses 18 and 21, emphasis added), salvation continues to elude many for so long.
Perhaps, there's someone reading this devotional message this morning who has remained unrepentant in spite of the preaching of the Gospel. I plead with such a person to have a rethink and not to remain unpersuaded despite that Jesus has risen from the dead and is testifying about the love of God and His desire that none should perish in hell and eventually, the lake of fire, but have eternal life through Him (ie, Jesus Christ). Your decision for Jesus now has a tremendous consequence on your eternal destination. Truth is that hell and the lake of fire weren't made for you, but for satan and his cohorts. Repent now, be persuaded and be saved!
PRAYER:
Father, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and that I'm in need of Your mercy. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me from eternal damnation through Him, amen