Imagine a guy floating downstream on a raft on a hot summer day. He’s having a great time, enjoying the ride as the cool water splashes on him. You’re on the shore and you know that there’s a dangerous waterfall not far downstream. This guy is floating blissfully and ignorantly toward his destruction. So, you yell, to warn him. You throw him a perserver. But then he rejects and keeps floating towards his death. Why won’t he grab the life preserver? The answer is because he loves what he’s doing and doesn’t want to believe your warning.
I have never understood why some people reject God. He offers his great salvation to us. You would think that everyone would eagerly grab the life preserver that God has thrown out to them.
“For God so loved the world He gave His Only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” -John 3:16
Why would anyone reject such a wonderful offer? Why would anyone want to keep heading for eternal destruction?
People reject Jesus because they love sin and they hate being exposed by God’s light or being convicted. This is also why people don’t go the Bible base churches.
I have some friends who I have invited to church or spoken to them about Jesus. They say they believe and we’re born again when they were small. They think they are “saved by the blood of Jesus.” They think they can go to clubs and drink, and cuss. The problem is God’s Word says differently.
People think that if they are basically good God will overlook their sins when they meet Him.
Plato the Greek philosopher is known to have said something that hit the nail on the head:
“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark. The real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”
The light came into this world in the person of Jesus Christ, and His presence condemned those in darkness.
Jesus states in John 8:12,
“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”
In the Bible, light is used symbolically in two main ways. First, first, it refers to God’s absolute holiness, which leads to the holiness of His people. Whereas darkness symbolizes Satan’s domain and sin.
Second, light refers to the spiritual illumination or understanding that we get when we are born again, whereas darkness refers to our natural blindness before we are saved (2 Corinthians 4:3-4, 6).
In a sense, God’s Word is a “lamp to our feet and a light to our path” (Ps 119:105).
Proverbs 6:23 says,
“For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light. Reproofs of instruction are a way of life.’
When Jesus came into the world, His very presence exposed the world to who God is as holy and to the fact that we are not holy.
Jesus did not come for the purpose of judgment, be of who He is, His very presence brought judgment and divided people.
Have you ever been in the presence of a very Godly person, so that in their presence you become uncomfortable?
I once heard a true story about a professional golfer who was once invited to play a foursome with Gerald Ford and Billy Graham, and Jack Nicklaus. He had played with Nicllaus before, but he was in awe of playing with President Ford and Billy Graham.
After the round was finished, one of the other pros came up and asked, “What was it like playing with the President and Billy Graham?” The pro unleashed a torrent of cursing and said disgustingly. “I don’t need Billy Grahan stuffing religion down my throat.” With that he turned and stormed off heading for the practice tee.
His friend followed the angry pro and watched him take out his driver and best ball after ball in fury. His friend said nothing, but just sat nearby and watched. After a few minutes, the pro calmed down. His friend said, ‘Was Billy a little hard on you out there?” The pro was embarrassed and said, “No he didn’t even mention God, I just had a bad round.”
Billy Graham’s presence made that gold pro feel condemned, even though Billy never said a word.
I think how much more would we have felt condemned to be in the presence of Jesus? In Luke 5:8, Peter fell down Jesus’s feet and said,
“Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man, O’Lord.”
From Pity to Praise 