Will God ever give up on me? This may be the wrong question. The right questions might be:
Will I give up on God?
Will the door of salvation always be open?
Will God tolerate me no matter how I act?
Let’s look at these questions and see what the Bible says.
Will I give up on God?
In the Old Testament, God chose Israel as His covenant people. Before Israel became a nation, the time came for Him to deliver the Jews from their bondage in Egypt, and He brought them out with a mighty hand.
God brought Moses before the pharaoh to announce the ten plagues that convinced him to let God’s people go.
God parted the Red Sea to allow His people to leave Egypt on dry land while He released the waters to deliver them from the approaching Egyptian army.
God gave them victory over every enemy as they crossed the wilderness to reach their promised land.
God provided two million men, their wives, and children, water and food throughout their wilderness journey.
Yet, when they reached the borders of the Promised Land, they refused to enter it because they feared the inhabitants, thereby doubting God could deliver them from their enemies. God didn’t give up on bringing the Jews into their Promised Land, but He did give up on that generation. They disobeyed, even after seeing God’s great deliverances; therefore, God only allowed two faithful men out of that generation to enter the land. Everyone else over the age of twenty died in the wilderness.
So, God gave up on them. Not in the sense that God sentenced them to Hell, He didn’t, but He wouldn’t allow that generation to inherit the land. Yet they gave up on God before He gave up on them. God expects us to cooperate with His efforts to help us.
Will the door of salvation always be open?
The Bible addresses this issue. God offers salvation today, but tomorrow is not guaranteed. The wilderness generation, as discussed above, illustrates the importance of a timely response.
“Look, now is the accepted time; look, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
“But exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13).
The Bible authors wrote these verses to the Church, but they apply to God’s offer of eternal salvation through faith in Christ. Jesus could take (rapture) His Church home to heaven anytime, closing the door to receiving eternal life during the Church Age. God will still save people after Jesus returns, but they will have to suffer through the seven years of God’s wrath, known as the tribulation. Now is the acceptable time!
Will God tolerate me no matter how I act?
“For this reason many are weak and unhealthy among you, and many die” (1 Corinthians 11:30).
The ‘reason’ some people in this church suffered was sinful behavior. The Apostle John takes up the same theme:
“If anyone sees his brother commit a sin which does not lead to death, he shall ask, and He shall give him life. This is for those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I do not say that he should pray for it” (1 John 5:16).
So, no, God will not tolerate blatant sin in His people. God disciplines His children, and since His children are citizens of heaven, His chastening can include taking them home to heaven.
God has promised believers in His Son, Jesus, that He will never leave or forsake them:
“For He has said: “I will never leave you, nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
And believers are secure in His love.
Because we’ve trusted Jesus to save us, we have eternal life and will go to heaven when we die. But, if we sin and rebel against Him, he will discipline us, and we could lose benefits we otherwise would have, both now and in eternity. Read “Can you lose your salvation?” here.
For unbelievers, the door of salvation is open. But the offer is for ‘today,’ meaning it’s available now, while you’re alive and before Jesus returns to take His Church to heaven. Jesus paid the full price for your salvation by dying on the cross and rising from the dead. But each time you turn away lessens the chance that you will someday accept God’s offer. And the offer is only available ‘today.’
‘Will God ever give up on me?’ is not the right question.
The question is: Will I give up on God?
We invite you to watch the Great News video on this page to find out more about finding salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Today is the day your life can be changed forever!
