July 7, 2022 – Click here to listen
I was thinking back many years ago when I heard the news that a young friend of mine had been arrested for felony possession of cocaine and paraphernalia. This 22-year-old young man was the mate on my boat and I fished with him quite often until I had to fire him because he became very unreliable and I suspected him of trying to sell me stolen fishing equipment.
When you fish with someone you spend quite a bit of time getting to know them. This youngster is intelligent, a good conversationalist, and a heck of a good fisherman. I knew he had an alcohol problem because we discussed it. I tried to tell him how much better my life became when I stopped drinking to no avail. Although he vehemently denied drug use, I strongly suspected that he was using and some other folks around town had alerted me to it. I actually witnessed to him several times and tried to get him to go to church with me. I lectured him on the dangers of drug use and excessive alcohol use and where it would lead. I recounted to him how my life was nearly ruined and nearly ended at a very young age on more than one occasion from participating in just such behavior and how I had overcome all of that by turning to God.
Alas, it was all for not. I’ve been sitting here looking at his mug shot which I downloaded from the Sheriff’s department website questioning what more I could have done and where I failed this young man. Unfortunately, we can watch over people, mentor them, pray for them and try our best to be a positive influence on their lives, but it is unfortunate that in the end, we cannot make choices for them.
Free will is one of the most frustrating things I encounter. It must be doubly so for our Father in heaven. Imagine sending your own Son to take the punishment for someone’s sins and then watch them spurn that supreme sacrifice and in effect spit in your face. The Lord has to be sadly shaking His head over that dilemma. It is hard enough for me to understand how someone can reject my advice based upon my experience of having similar problems, much less understand why so many reject God’s grace. Had this young man listened to advice and joined me in going to church and pursuing things like catching sailfish and Wahoo instead of smoking crack cocaine, he would not be sitting in jail right now wondering how much time he will serve and what a felony conviction will mean to him throughout his life. He would know peace and joy and fellowship with a loving Father and would be enjoying the blessings of God.
How many people enter the darkness and torment of Hell every single day because they stubbornly refused to use their free will to make a choice for Jesus? Unfortunately, we already know the answer to that is TOO MANY! The Bible tells us that wide is the gate and broad is the road to destruction and there are “many” that take its easy path. It goes on to say that narrow is the path and difficult the way which leads to life and there are few who find it. Yet the Bible clearly tells us that “everyone” who asks, receives, and he who seeks, finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened, which clearly tells us it boils down to making a simple choice of submission. Ironic that so few make it, isn’t it?
James 4:7
Therefore submit to God.
Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you