I find it so heart-wrenching when counselees refuse to believe the truth about their sin and their desperate need for a Savior. Undeniably, there will always be stubborn, unwilling, and unrepentant counselees who are not enthusiastic about walking in newness of life. Some unbelievers believe the cost to follow Christ is too expensive and too radical.
Mark 10:17-27 reminds us that only God has the power to give a lost person new eyes and eternal life:
As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But at these words [g]he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.
23 And Jesus, looking around, *said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus *answered again and *said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were even more astonished and said to Him, “[h]Then who can be saved?” 27 Looking at them, Jesus *said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” (NASB)
God is still in the “business” of transforming lives and bringing lost souls to reconciliation with Himself for salvation. That’s the joy we have in this ministry – to watch Him work by His Spirit to help lost people to believe the truth and to share in that privilege as an instrument in His Hands.
-Mark (thankful that my ability to present the Gospel skillfully and articulately does not determine a lost person’s fate)