Why Do People Reject God?

 

Introduction.  (Acts 13:38-46)  A week or so ago, a question was posted on the website which is a very profound question—“According to Scripture, why do people reject God and refuse to believe in Him?”  All of us know those to whom such a question is especially applicable.  All around us there are those who do not believe.  All around us there are those who reject the gospel.  Why is this?  Why is this so?  This evening let’s consider what the Scripture offers us in answer to this question. 

I.  They judge themselves unworthy of eternal life (Acts 13:46).

A.  This doesn’t mean that they didn’t want eternal life.  Everyone wants eternal life (if they recognize the need for it).

1.  They didn’t recognize that Paul offered the only means to eternal life (Acts 4:9-12).  The gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life.

2.  They didn’t like the message he brought.  In so doing, they made a choice for themselves that they were unworthy of eternal life.

B.  They probably didn’t  realize that this was their choice.

1.  They may have thought that they were holding on to the way of eternal life.

2.  Yet, by refusing to accept the only true way to life, they “judged themselves unworthy of eternal life.”

II.  What are some reasons we do this?

A.  Fear. 

1.  It is a frightening thing to follow God.  It calls on us to trust the unseen.  It calls on us to fight powerful foes.  It is easy to have misplaced fears.

2.  This was Israel’s problem.  God had delivered them from Pharaoh.  He had conquered oceans and deserts and hunger, but now they were called on to be conquerors.  They didn’t think they could do it (Numbers 14:1-11).  

3.  Fear is rejection.  But it ignores what man should truly fear (Luke 12:4-5).  This “fear of God” is a choice.

B.  Some hate knowledge and refuse to choose the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:20-29).  Why would anyone do this?  Some do so because of…

1.  Ignorance (Ephesians 4:17-19).  These are the souls we seek the most.  They do not know the truth.  Perhaps, if they can only learn the truth, that hard heart will melt.  Others cling to…

2.  Tradition (Mark 7:5-9).  Some traditions are religious.  People do what they have always done—what their family has always done.  That may or may not be a good measure of truth.

a. Some traditions have nothing to do with religion.  They are simply what the flesh chooses to do.

b. Following Jesus may demand spending our time differently than we would choose.  It may mean we deny certain pleasures—those traditions which concern what we do with our bodies or put into our bodies.  Many reject God because of the… 

C.  Love of pleasure (2 Timothy 3:1-4).  Note: this is love of self, focused on love of pleasure.  These people are not just the drug users, the fornicators, the alcoholics—sometimes they are people that look very kind and self-controlled.  However, they will not follow Christ because…

1.  They choose to follow the dictates of their heart (Jeremiah 13:8-10a).  The heart is fickle.  The heart is selfish.  The heart is only as sound as the content it has received within it.  The heart is not a reliable standard.  Yet, many follow it.  The heart can convince us to accept as true what is in fact a lie.  It leads us to…

2.  Love the lie and being deceived (Jeremiah 9:5-6).

Conclusion.  In every individual there may be an infinite number of reasons, or combination of reasons why people reject God.  When all is said and done we must recognize when those around us do this a couple of things are going on:

·         They are failing to truly look and listen (Matthew 13:10-17).

·         They are making a choice (Joshua 24:14, 15).

Our task is to do all that we can to help the souls around us come to obedience to the gospel, but all we can do is lead them to the truth, they must listen and make the choice for themselves.  Some will—some will not.