John 16:7-8
“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment…”
Do you enjoy pointing out other people’s sin? Does it make you feel better about yourself? Perhaps, like me, you’ve spent some time trying to get a loved one or a friend to see their own sin, hoping they will own it and turn from it. I don’t know why it is so easy to get caught up in these pursuits—maybe you don’t struggle with this—but I think most Christians do. Sin can be infuriating, especially when people refuse to see it, but why do we feel compelled to take the witness stand and testify against a fellow lawbreaker?
Which thief on the cross are you?
The spiritual reality is that every single person on the planet has at least some notion of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Sin is the truth about man, righteousness is the truth about God, and judgment is the inevitable combination of these two truths. Not only has God placed eternity in the heart of every person (Ecc. 3:11), but he has written his law on their hearts, as well (Rom. 2:15). Additionally, God has made his existence clearly known so that people are without excuse when it comes to their accountability (Rom. 1:19). As a result, there really is no such thing as an atheist, so all that is left is mankind’s choice about what to do regarding the God they know exists…and the moral law that he has instituted and oversees.
Enter…the Holy Spirit.
Every Believer can and should talk about the truths of God, but only the Holy Spirit can bring someone to repentance and faith. It’s His job…not ours. We can and should pray for lost people to see their sin…but we can’t see it for them, nor can we force them to see it. We should long for the lost to understand the holiness of God—His righteousness—but we can’t get them there through our own persuasion. We should be willing to warn people about the coming Judgment…but we can’t make them take it seriously. It’s critical to know the difference between our responsibility…and God’s.
I have been trying to walk with God since September of 1994, and I still struggle with this subject. Perhaps you do, as well. Having to raise four kids has certainly taught us many lessons about “staying in our lane” when it comes to our children’s spiritual development…but that hasn’t made it easy. We get frustrated. We get mad. Sometimes we can be ugly and unloving…but God has continued to work despite our falling short time and time again. He is moving in our children’s lives as He sees fit and we are learning to rest in that. We are willing to have some hard conversations, but also willing (usually) to leave the convicting up the Holy Spirit…as if we have some say in that 🙂
What about you?
