Why Do People Reject Jesus?

There’s an old hymn called “Everybody ought to know”, and the lyrics read: Everybody ought to know who Jesus is.
He’s the lily of the valley. He’s the brighter morning star. He’s the fairest of ten thousand. Everybody ought to know.

It’s that simple. All we need is that opportunity, that presentation of the gospel, to hear about Jesus. We have to know that following Jesus will satisfy our every need (not fleshly want, but every need). We have to know that nothing else can fill the void in our hearts like Jesus will. We need to know that true joy, peace and hope comes from him alone. We need to know that having a living relationship with Jesus and believing in him, is the only way to salvation.

Once anybody hears that wonderful truth, how could they not just throw everything on the altar and run to him? Some people do. But what about the ones who don’t? How can anyone sit in the presence of God and yet be unmoved? How can someone hear preaching about the reality of eternity, and not want to get their life right? No matter how convincing the preacher may be, or how the evidence of miracles may be present, a heart that isn’t opened will not be shaken.

But what causes a person’s heart to be hardened?

Every Friday I pull out my Swiffer sweeper to clean the floor in my bedroom. It’s always fairly dusty and in need of a cleaning. Today, despite being the dead of winter, the sun was shining, and I opened the blinds in the room. When I walked in with my Swiffer, I was shocked to see just how dusty the floor really was. Not even the unnatural light of my lamp truly exposed it. In just a week, there was so much hair and dust molecules that I barely noticed until I allowed the sun to come in.

In John chapter 8 verse 12, Jesus declares: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” That statement wasn’t well received by all who heard it. But this concept was spoken of in John chapter 1. “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.”

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

Without Jesus, we can live in a perceived “blissful” ignorance.

Only the presence of true light can expose the deep and dirty parts of our soul. Living in darkness, or even in false light can cover up that dirt. I didn’t like seeing just how dirty my floor was. (I’m kind of a clean freak). In fact, I almost wanted to close the drapes so I wouldn’t have to see how bad it was. But having the natural light from the sun allowed me to clean up better because I knew I was reaching every spot.

We don’t like having our sins exposed. We don’t want our dirty laundry out in the open. It’s much easier to live in darkness and not have to address our weakness. Some people think they are better off living the life they currently have. They don’t believe they need a saviour, especially one who will force them to change. By admitting their need for Jesus, and making the decision to follow him, there is some stuff to clean up. And it’s not pleasant.

Often times, the ones who accept Jesus no questions asked are at the end of their rope and have nothing else to cling to. The ones who are comfortable in their lives, and even “happy” to some degree, will listen politely to the gospel, but ultimately reject it. What they don’t understand is that the presence of light will face them with the ugly reality that the dirt is there, and it has to be taken care of.

John chapter 3 says: “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”

Nobody likes to admit their wrong. And embracing change is painful, especially a complete turnaround of your entire life. The Bible says that Jesus didn’t come to condemn the world, but rather to save it (John 3:17). Rather than revolting against God, we need to understand the gift of salvation that his son Jesus has provided. Sin leads to death. Whether you want to believe it or not.

God isn’t here to steal your fun. He will give you life even better than you’ve ever experienced before. When a parent tells their child not to touch the hot stove, it’s to protect them. When we’re warned about the consequences of alcohol abuse, it’s not to spoil the party. It’s to save us from the pain and suffering that it will cause us and even possibly others.

Our selfish nature doesn’t want to be told what to do. But rest assured, the One who created us is wiser, stronger, and has a perspective that we’ll never have. My prayer is that you reject the darkness and come into the light. It’s much cleaner here. 🙂

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” – 1 John 1:7

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