“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1st Cor. 1:18)
We are fools in their eyes, yet they are the ones that fear death, the ones that will do almost anything for one more day of life. What imaginations they conceive of an eternal existence is based on either superstition, their vain, works-based imaginations, or at best some form of pseudo-religious nonsense offered to them by some cult.
We offer them the truths of the Word of God, and they call us liars, wanting proof of what we expound to them, and after a while, sometimes a very long period of time, we leave them to their own devices.
“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” (Psalm 14:1)
No matter what name they give to their god, to them there is almost always one constant, he is concerned with their works here, the balancing scale of good versus bad, and most generally that bad is not only subjective, but comparative.
They are not as bad as their neighbor, some person from the past, and so they believe themselves to be good enough, and their perception of heaven is in all reality nothing less than a place where they will be allowed to do whatever they desire without personal repercussions.
Building up the pride of man, his perception of goodness within himself, is what our adversary does well, and with that he always includes the pride of being better than. Better, or at least not as bad as, some others. And so, the scales will always tip to their favor.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Eph. 2:8)
Over the decades I have yet to meet anyone in any works-based for salvation cult that agrees with that verse, to them the preaching of the cross is just as much foolishness as it is to those who have been given over to a reprobate mind. His grace is not enough and never will be, the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ will never be sufficient enough, God cannot save them unless they perform some work worthy of His recognition and acceptance.
And if there is another thing I have learned of those spoken of here, there is never any assurance of their salvation. The works they believe will save them from eternal damnation are just as dangerous to the loss of their salvation if they do not continue in them.
The preaching of the cross will always be foolishness to them, and you the fool for believing it.
So, what are we to do?
“For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1st Cor. 9:16)
We keep preaching, we keep witnessing, planting seeds, searching for the lost, and find, over time, that most we speak to will call us fools. And over time, this verse becomes not only a reality in our lives, but commonplace.
“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” (Matt. 7:6)
Acquaintances are lost, friends and family members will leave our side, and we leave them behind, for no one set on the path to the strait gate rests long upon that path. We have a purpose set before us, it is not to cajole or even vehemently attempt to persuade, it is to offer the truths of the Scriptures, of the cross and the One who died on it for us.
If they will not listen, move on.
The time we allot to each individual is in part up to us, but not fully, it does no good to water a dead seed. This is perhaps one of the most difficult tasks placed before us, especially when it is a person we love. But you must be able to hear the Holy Spirit when He says, “It’s time to move on.”
