Don't Torment Yourself Over People Who Refuse To Get Saved

1st Corinthians 16:22, “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.”

I used to feel really bad about people to whom I had witnessed the Gospel, but they refused to get saved. As I have grown older, I don't torment myself anymore over things I have no control over. Dear reader, we cannot save anyone! 1st Corinthians 3:6-7, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” Our job is to share the Gospel (i.e., the Good News of Jesus crucified, buried and risen). God's job is to “SAVE THEM THAT BELIEVE” (1st Corinthians 1:21b).

The Apostle Paul said in Romans 10:1 that his heart's desire was for Israel to be saved. Paul had a burdened heart for the lost, especially for his own countrymen in Israel. Yet, Paul said that after warning someone twice, he was done trying to convert them. Titus 3:10-11, “A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”

The Apostle Paul says in our text passage from 1st Corinthians 16:22, “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.” The Greek word for anathema means “accursed.” The Greek word Maranatha means “the Lord is coming.” The apostle didn't waste his time begging naysayers and skeptics to come to Jesus to be saved.

I have an elderly atheist neighbour, a grandmother who turned 85 years old this year in February. I have often prayed for God to work in her heart, so that she would be convicted about her lost condition. I have shared the Gospel with her, but to no avail. I freely offered her a hard copy of Michael P. Bowen's helpful book, “I Never Knew You,” but she refused to take it. So sad.

I have another neighbour, a 52 year old single mother of six children (one sadly a miscarriage). She is steeped into new age occultism. I shared the Gospel with her, but she refused to get saved. I also freely offered her a hard copy of Michael P. Bowen's helpful book, “I Never Knew You,” but she refused to take it and said she likely would never read it. That is so tragic! One day in eternity, when she stands empty-handed before God almighty without a wedding robe, she will rue the day that she turned down the book I wanted to freely give her to read and keep.

That being said, I don't beat myself up over these two dear women who refuse to heed the Gospel to be saved. That is their decision alone to reject the Messiah, not mine. All I can do now is continue to pray for them and hope that they come to their senses before it is too late. John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

I am not saying that we shouldn't care about getting lost sinners saved, but there's a whole world of lost people who are waiting to hear the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ. We shouldn't waste our time debating with skeptical or indoctrinated religious fools who persistently refuse to obey the Gospel. The Apostle Paul equate loving Jesus with trusting in Him. 1st Corinthians 16:22, “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.”

I will continue to pray for my lost neighbours, for the Holy Spirit to work in their soul to convict them to be saved. Albeit, if they go to Hell someday, I won't feel devastated over their stupidity. Titus 2:11, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men...” We all make our own choices in life, which we live and die by. 2nd Timothy 2:13, “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” I just don't feel sorry for foolish people who having seen the miracle of God's wondrous creation, and enjoyed the blessings of the gift of life, still reject God's free gift of eternal life. Anyone can be saved, simply through childlike faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Everyone knows that God exists, so that no one has any excuse...

Romans 1:20-21, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

Woe unto all Christ rejecters in eternity!!! As long as we shared the Gospel with them, their blood will not be upon our hands. I can live with that! As long as I have preached the Gospel to my loved ones, acquaintances and neighbours, my conscience is clear. 1st Corinthians 16:22, “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.” That is, let him be cursed, the Lord is coming!