Words from the Rock
As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.
John 12:47–50 NIV
If a guy is starving and you offer him food, but he says “No thanks” and then dies of starvation, would you be to blame? By the same token, if a girl is dying of thirst and you offer her water, but she refuses to drink and then dies of dehydration, would you be to blame? Would their deaths be your fault? Could a judge convict you as a murderer? Of course not! You tried to help them, but they refused your help. They brought their deaths upon themselves.
It’s not any different when Jesus offers us the words of life. If we reject his words, if we refuse to listen and believe, isn’t it our own fault if we never receive eternal life? Jesus says he didn’t come to judge the world. Just the opposite—he came to save the world. That means everyone in the world. His desire is that every single person who inhabits the planet will hear his words, and that every single person will receive them for what they are—words of life.
But he can’t force anyone to do that, and he won’t judge anyone for rejecting his words. That’s not his job. Besides, he doesn’t need to judge anyone, because those of us who reject his words of life seal our own fate. Just like the guy who refuses food or the girl who refuses water, each of us is responsible for the negative consequences of a bad decision—our own death. Jesus gives all of us lots of chances, right down to our last dying breath, to rethink that decision. He doesn’t want anyone to miss out.
My Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for giving me your words of life. Please help me to always cling to them, believe in them, and share them with others.
Amen.
Final Word
I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
John 15:11 NLT
Stone for the Journey
Jesus’s words fill me with life.