“But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts” (Rev. 9:20-21).
Up until recent years, I was genuinely amazed that even when God’s wrath is revealed and His judgments are undeniably evident, those subjected to His wrath persist in their sins, refusing to repent. It always stumped me why anyone would choose to defy God, even while enduring such horrible, tormenting judgments.
Then I finally realized the answer to my curiosity. Actually, I had known it all along but hadn’t put two and two together. God did not bestow His grace upon them that they should believe. Had God done so, they would have repented immediately.
These are among the multitudes, even billions of people all over the world, who cross the line with God.
Several Bible truths immediately come to mind regarding God not giving His grace to some people.
- Some are not given understanding of the gospel (Matt. 13:10-12).
- Because they were proud (Isaiah 66:2).
- Some never receive the Word, but it is stolen before it enters their heart (Matt. 13:19).
- Because they love evil and hate the light (Jn. 3:18-20).
- Some are given over to a reprobate mind (Rom. 1:26-28).
- Because they knowingly reject God (Rom. 1:21).
- Some are sent a strong delusion that they should believe in a lie (II Thess. 2:11-12).
- Because they do not receive the truth (II Thess. 2:10).
- Some are blinded by “the god of this world” (II Cor. 4:3-4).
- Because they try to reason the truth with their own understanding (II Tim. 3:7).
- Some were “marked out for this condemnation” (Jude 1:4).
- Because God purposed for it to be so (I Pet. 2:8; Pro. 16:4).
We see many people today like those in Revelation 9:20-21 in the sense that no matter how much truth is being proclaimed, they refuse to leave their gods – the god of self and the god of this world. Many have already crossed over the line.
For those of us who have repented by faith and who seek to grow in real repentance, we should be forever grateful for the grace of God given to us, and we should earnestly pray for God to pour out His grace on all who have not believed.
The Apostle Paul said: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain” (I Cor. 15:10).
Our Lord said: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44).
May the grace of God upon us not be in vain.
