The consequences of rejecting Jesus are eternal and begin in this life as people walk down the broad road of the world. The profound implication for those who reject Jesus explains why He calls people to come to Him in faith. If you have never believed in Him, the Lord is calling you today! It’s never too late to turn to the Lord this side of eternity! When we repent of our sins, the Lord welcomes us with open, loving arms into the family of God.
Jesus tells us that, with His help, we can choose the narrow gateway. This is the miracle of the Gospel. Matthew 7:13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.[1]
The wide road appeals to our sinful nature because people believe happiness comes from getting what they want and focusing on themselves at the expense of others. It is never God’s will for anyone to perish, but for all to repent. (Ref. 2 Peter 3:9.)
The Enemy Blinds People
As people travel down the broad road, they reject Jesus’ call to turn and repent of their sins. As the call to reject Jesus increases in a person’s heart, it becomes hard to the point of hating Jesus and those who follow Him. Jesus explains more about why people reject Him. John 15:21They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me. [2]
This is the spiritual battle many people face without realizing it, as the enemy has closed their eyes to their sin. Corinthians 4:4Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. [3]
Although the enemy blinds people, they will not have an excuse for rejecting Jesus. John 15:22 They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Anyone who hates me also hates my Father. [4]
Can Hate Turn to Love?
Is it possible to change your life from hatred of Jesus and His followers to coming to Him in faith? Yes, it is, as we see from the Apostle Paul. In Acts chapter nine, Paul was on the broad road to hell until Jesus intervened in his life. Paul was a religious Jew who persecuted Jesus’ followers and was spiritually blind. As Paul traveled to Damascus to persecute believers, he was struck blind by Jesus.
Three days later, the Lord sent a believer named Ananias to lay his hands on him and pray for him. During those three days, the Holy Spirit worked in Paul’s heart, and when Ananias prayed for him, he believed and was then baptized. No one is beyond the reach of God. The Lord may be placing someone on your heart today to pray that they would come to Jesus. It is a tremendous privilege to stand in the gap for the rescue of someone’s soul.
To learn more about the consequences of rejecting Jesus, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/podpanel/episode/when-the-road-gets-hard
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.