The Consequence of a Choice
When we worry about how man will respond to learning of our faith, our voice grows quiet. Eventually, we will, as Peter did before the crucifixion, deny even knowing Jesus in order to save face with people who matter nothing in comparison with eternity. Thankfully for Peter, and us, these acts of cowardice will be forgiven. Luke 12:10 assures us of this when it says, “And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven…” As we saw with Peter, Jesus not only forgave his open denial of the Lord but, he reinstated his calling. Romans 11:29 reminds us, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” Thankfully for Peter, and us, God doesn’t give up on us when we fall flat on our face.
There is something that is not forgivable. The last part of Luke 12:10 declares, “…but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” Denying Christ before others is a forgivable offense but blaspheming the Holy Spirit is not. This may be a confusing concept and even a bit scary. None of us want to accidentally commit this offense and face eternal damnation. Thankfully, this is not something we can do by accident. To blaspheme the Holy Spirit means we willfully and completely reject the message of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came to declare that Jesus is the Messiah and the Savior of the World. John 15:26 tells us, “But when the Helper (Holy Spirit) comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.” One of the main roles of the Holy Spirit is to testify about who Jesus is. Therefore, if we reject Jesus as our Savior, we make the Holy Spirit out to be a liar and thus blaspheme him. This decision is eternal because salvation come through none other than Jesus the Christ.
There are those who claim that after our death we go to a place of torment and trial. When we endure these atrocities, we can essentially change our mind about who Jesus is. They teach that if a soul acknowledges Christ after death, they can then earn a way into Heaven. We must beware of teaching which contradicts what scripture says. Not only does today’s reading reveal that declaring the message of the Holy Spirit a lie to be an unforgivable offence, we have other scriptures which assure us we cannot earn our way into Heaven. For example, Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” There will be no second chance once we have drawn our final breath. This is why blaspheming the Holy Spirit by declaring his message of salvation only through Jesus to be a lie, is the unforgivable sin. There will be a time when God’s invitation runs out. Decide to follow Jesus now because if you don’t, you will hear the scariest words ever recorded in scripture: “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23).
(Written by Keegan Harkins.)
Comments