“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;” (Romans 1:28)
I will allow you to question your conscience here and let the Word of God speak for itself. If the Lord has given a person you know over to a reprobate mind, what makes you believe that you can draw them to Christ? A difficult scenario that I fear few born-again believers ponder, for in their mind, especially if it is a loved one, there is always hope, but consider our opening verse, can you honestly say there is still hope for the salvation of their soul if the Almighty has given up on them, so to speak, has allowed them not only to choose a life of blatant rebellion and thereby sin, but has turned them over to that reprobate mind?
It is not in our nature to give up on people, hope is almost always present within us, and adversity can sometimes bring out the strongest actions and emotions from us. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2nd Peter 3:9) The Most High said that, yet He has given some over to a lifestyle they themselves have chosen, knowing full well the eternal consequences of their actions.
Does that mean that the Lord will no longer call them to Himself, does it mean that you are wasting years of your life trying to reach someone whom the Lord has determined will die in their sins? Again, as has become my habit in an attempt to assist you in your walk, I bring up a question that cannot be answered in this life, a contemplation point meant to help you to seek the will of God in your life. There is little need to speak with our brothers and sisters in Christ who are of full age, who “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Heb. 5:14) who desire to speak of Christ and Him crucified only, the meat is more profitable than the milk.
I submit to the will of the Holy Spirit in these letters, if it is of the cross that He desires to speak to you, then that is what I will write, but today it is the question of hope, of when we should continue in it, and when we are to treat even those we love as Gentiles.
The real question is then, are you prepared to stop casting pearls before swine?
I would presume you are wise enough in the Lord to not pray for the whole world to be saved, but are you discerning enough, can you not only hear but heed the Holy Spirit when He says, “Not this one.” How many God-fearing wives, women who prayed earnestly for their husbands will find themselves single in heaven, how many Christ-centered parents are without children there? When do we stop praying for those that God has given over to a reprobate mind, when do we give up on hope?
“For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matt. 12:50)
The moment you were saved you received a new family, but we are human, and we want our family here to be with us for all eternity there. Again, I have no answer for you, but I offer you this. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16)
Listen to your heart when the Lord speaks to you, and obey Him, no matter what He says, do not listen to yourself. Hope sometimes dies, that is one of the reasons there will be tears in heaven for a while.
