The "window" of Salvation.

[B-A-C]

In Matt 20:1-16; there is a parable about workers in a vineyard. Some come in the morning, some come in the afternoon, and some come in the evening.
Yet they all get paid the same. This parable is about Salvation. Some people get saved when they are young, perhaps teenagers. Others get saved in
mid-life, perhaps in their 30's or 40's. Still others get saved later in life, maybe while in their 60's or 70's. But no matter how old they are when they get saved,
they are all equally saved.

Some people even get saved on their death-bed. God has enough grace and mercy, that He lets some people get saved in the last few minutes on their lives.
I have actually seen this happen, I saw someone receive Jesus, and then die just a few hours later. Many believe it's never too late to receive Jesus, but I'm not
sure this is always the case. It seems many times in the Bible, God says enough is enough and closes the window on them.

Exod 7:13 Yet Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.
Exod 7:22 But the magicians of Egypt did the same with their secret arts; and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.
Exod 8:15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.
Exod 8:19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.
Exod 8:32 But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go.
Exod 9:7 Pharaoh sent, and behold, there was not even one of the livestock of Israel dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.
Exod 9:34 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
Exod 9:35 Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he did not let the sons of Israel go, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses.

Here in the story of Moses and Pharaoh, it seems Pharaoh hardened his heart eight times. Moses was trying to tell Pharaoh to let the Jews go free, or else God
will intervene. Pharaoh didn't want to hear any of this.

Exod 10:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may perform these signs of Mine among them,
Exod 10:20 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go.
Exod 10:27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he was not willing to let them go.

So finally after the 8th time, God says fine. You want to be stubborn.. so be it, I will harden your heart. I doubt Pharaoh could have changed his mind even if he would have wanted to
after this happened. Sometimes God give us what we want, even if it's not what He wants.

Rom 1:21; For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22; Professing to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23; and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
Rom 1:24; Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.

"Even though they knew God". God will tell some people I never knew you. Other's have known God, but at some point they rejected His will.
After a while God says OK... enough is enough. It says here "God gave them over". Eventually God closes the window for some people.

Rom 1:25; For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Rom 1:26; For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,

This particular passage is talking about homosexuality, but I think the principle could apply to any sin. These people "exchanged the truth of God for a lie".
Apparently they they knew the truth at some point, but rejected it. So again, God says enough is enough. That's what you want, fine!
God gave them over to degrading passions.

Rom 1:27; and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
Rom 1:28; And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,

Some people refuse to "to acknowledge God any longer". God says fine, enough is enough... and God gave them over to a depraved mind. There is no turning back now.
God has closed the door.

In most of the gospels, Jesus tells the disciples to go out and witness and share the gospel. He says if they receive your message, that's great, but if they don't....

Matt 10:14 "Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.
Mark 6:11 "Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them."
Luke 9:5 "And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them."
Luke 10:11; 'Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.'

Shake the dust off your feet and move on to the next town. I notice Jesus doesn't beg anyone to get saved. I never see Jesus on His knees begging the Pharisees
to believe in Him. He calls them a brood of vipers, sons of hell, and whitewashed tombs. He asks them how they will escape the sentence of hell.

.. to be continued ...

 

[B-A-C]

There was a time in my life, I didn't want to get saved. I was afraid of what I would have to give up. I had heard the message many times, but I was selfish.
Thank God he had mercy on me, and kept giving me chances. But there will come a day for many people, when the door will be shut.

Matt 25:10; "And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.
Matt 25:11; "Later the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, lord, open up for us.'
Matt 25:12; "But he answered, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.'
Matt 25:13; "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

Once God shuts the door, it's too late. There is no second chance after this.

1Cor 5:2; You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.
1Cor 5:3; For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present.
1Cor 5:4; In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,
1Cor 5:5; I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1Cor 5:6; Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?

Paul talks about people committing sin in the church here. He says you guys are OK with this sin that's going on.
You know about it, but you aren't doing anything about it. It's corrupting the whole church. A little leaven, leavens the whole lump. (the whole church).

Paul says he has "decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh". (so that his spirit might be saved).
Sometimes, enough is enough... God will try to use circumstances to get us to repent and turn to Him, but if we don't... fine.
God will eventually give you what you want, but you might regret it for eternity.