In the last posting we looked to the Scriptures to find the correct way to respond to the Lord’s voice of conviction. However, the same Book also shows us how not to respond to the realization that we are wrong.

In Acts 6,7 we find the story of Stephen the table waiter who had been assigned one of the most unglamorous jobs available in the newly founded church of Jerusalem–feeding widows. In spite of this lowly assignment, Stephen turned out to be one of the most faith-filled, courageous and effective men God ever used in His ministry. So much so that it took two chapters to tell his story. In chapter 6 we learn that Stephen, being “full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.” Unsurprisingly, it was the religious power brokers who came out against him because he refused to not only deny that Jesus of Nazareth as a man sent from God, but identified Him as the Son of God. This caused his detractors to take him before the ruling authorities. It was then that he gave forth one of the most compelling sermons ever uttered (ch. 7). His informative and condemning words were heard by a young Pharisee named Saul of Tarsus. Relative to our subject–reaction to conviction–Stephen’s detractors did what all but a minutely few church people do when confronted with God’s Truth–they “stop up their ears” and refuse to hear what God s saying to them. Saul of Tarsus would later hear the voice of God directly. This time his reaction would be quite different.

In Mark 10:17-22 we find a rich man, laboring under powerful conviction, running to where he had heard Jesus could be found. Falling to his knees, he begged the Lord to tell him how to attain eternal life. Jesus told him that he had to obey the Law. The man assured Him that he had obeyed all of the Ten Commandments all of his life. Jesus then told him that one thing stood between himself and salvation–greed. The man refused to make the required correction, causing him to leave the presence of Jesus knowing that he would not receive eternal life. The rich man’s reaction to conviction presents another lesson on how not to react to God’s correction. Unfortunately, in todays world of religion, the church masses do what he did when told God’s Truth. But why should they repent, be converted and embrace Jesus and His Words? Being already saved, why bother with God’s rules? A former missionary summed it up when she told me, “It’s just too much trouble to obey God.”

In John 6:53-66 we find Jesus speaking to a group of people which included His disciples. When He finished speaking, “Many of His disciples said, ‘This is a hard saying: who can hear (accept) it….” “From that time (on) many of His disciples went back (into the world) and walked no more with Him.” Clearly, their reaction to conviction was not what Jesus wanted. Next we will study God’s grace which enables us to hear His voice, turn and join Him.

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