The Danger of Indecision

How do you tell the difference between a skeptic who is actually searching spiritually and someone who really isn’t? When you tell them the truth, they will respond.

For example, when you answer the questions of a skeptic who is seeking spiritual truth, they are willing to hear your answers. But when you answer the question of someone who isn’t interested in hearing the truth, they will interrupt you while you’re answering their question. And then they’ll interrupt you again with another question. This is a tactic to get you off track. They want you to go away.

But if they’re open, they’ll respond to the truth. When Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to Jesus, he had honest questions that Jesus directly answered.

Jesus said to him, “All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants” (John 3:20–21 NLT).

We wonder if there is one thing, one secret statement, that we can say to make a person believe. No such thing exists. Instead, we are to proclaim the simple gospel message and pray that God will open their spiritual eyes.

All the clever arguments in the world will not open a person’s eyes. No matter what happens, it must be the work of the Spirit.

Some would assert that no one seeks God and no one is interested in God. However, the Bible teaches that God gives each person enough faith, enough light, to take a first step. Referring to Jesus, the Gospel of John tells us, “The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world” (1:9 NLT).

If they have a little light and respond, then God will give them more light and ultimately bring them to Himself.

The Bible also tells us that God “has planted eternity in the human heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT). This simply means that every individual has an awareness there is something more—Someone more.

There are people who, although they’re living in sin, are not happy there. They don’t feel comfortable or happy in the parties they go to. They’re tired of the backbiting, the games, and the selfishness of others. And they question whether their friends really are their friends. They’re miserable. They don’t want to be in darkness, but they don’t know the way out.

The good news is that someone like you can go into their world and say, “God loved you so much that He sent His only Son. And if you will believe in Him, you will not perish but have everlasting life.”

If they’re true seekers, then they’ll have enough light to know that what they’re doing is wrong. They just don’t know what to do next.

God reaches people through people, and someone must tell them. At the same time, there will come a moment of decision in their lives. And every time they put that decision off, their hearts will get a little harder.

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