Ideally, in God’s perfect plan, His perfect Word: God calls, we hear and come to Him humbling ourselves; we get to know Him, surrender to Him wholly; and we and trust Him and take Him literally at His Word. We know what we are doing, we count the cost first before we make that choice to marry Christ: Baptism—that public demonstration of what has happened privately by one’s faith choice to be one with God. We go down into the watery grave the old man, and then we come up out of the water—we resurrect a new creature in Christ. Old things are passed away, dead. All things are become new—are new! God spoke the Word and the Word stood fast. Immediately the Word Christ speaks exist. Period. We speak the Word and it exists. The people of God say “Amen”.
But, the reality is that many don’t want to let go of governing self, love the world and the ways of the world. They get baptized without getting to know God. They do not count the cost first.
God has made provision, allowed, permitted our choices, this is not His approval—this is not His perfect will. God is being redemptive with us. He loves us, wants to save us. If we are taking our own turns and curves, hills in our journey; God will allow our choices and the consequences of those choices; that we turn back to Him, and repent. If we repent and are converted: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 KJV
God knows the end, from the beginning. He already knew who would do or live the life He breathed into them their own way. Many do not come to know God, behold God and become changed by Him, by the Word. God labors long with us, He does all without force that not one perish, that they may have everlasting life. But, many crucify Him afresh, and refuse His salvation.
The reality is too that many are enlightened but still turn their backs to God, reject Him.
“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”
Hebrews 6:4-6 KJV
We know not when we will breathe our last breath from God, nor when our probation has closed even if we are still breathing. Many wicked are preserved until the last day. Every one of us has a purpose whether unto life: We by faith sacrifice self to God, live unto Him. Or, one lives unto death: The soul at every opportunity God gave to save them, forsook Him and held to self, to sin: They love death instead of Life—these grieve the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost) for the last time. Many of them do not even know the Holy Spirit is gone from them. Because many are deceived, and many have so many times yielded to Satan giving him and his devils more and more power and authority each time to control them. The Holy Spirit will not dwell in them, the mind of Christ, the Word cannot abide within.
Remember, God allowing our choices is not His approval of our choices. He can only do His Word spoken and written, He will not move contrary to His Word, He will not act contrary or opposite of His character. God is love. His love is not the love the world has and teaches. The world does not know nor love God.
He loves us so much, He will give us chance after chance just as He did Israel in times past. The record will show He is just, faithful, true. Everyone will bow their knee to God and worship Him, including Satan. But, the final consequence of their choices is executed. Their sentence is come.
The wicked are destroyed by the works of their own hands.
Be not deceived. Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation. Repent and be converted and be born again.
Peace