21 Once more Jesus said to them, "I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come."
Solemn Words from our Savior’s lips indeed. Pointing to the fact that spiritual judgments are the severest of all judgments, our Lord’s Words cut to the chase. Just as Jesus’ time on earth was short, He discloses here that sadly our time of opportunity is limited as well. The lesson is a very painful one as men continue to reject God until at last He rejects them. Jesus is desirous of warning the casual unbeliever of the consequences of their infidelity. Our verse for today is a culmination of the fact that Jesus in His mercy had played the flute for them, so to speak, in offering them His grace yet they had refused to dance. Jesus gives us the following example in Scripture regarding the people’s rejection of both John the Baptist and Himself:
16 "To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 17 "'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.' Matt 11:16-17 (NIV)
There is certainly nothing new under the sun – from the beginning of Scripture until now, men continue on in their blindness and unregenerate state. I am reminded early on in Scripture when Pharaoh continued to harden his heart over and over again until at last God hardened Pharaoh’s heart so as not to listen to nor heed His messenger Moses’ words. We find in Exodus:
12 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said to Moses. Ex 9:11-12 (NIV)
We can stifle conviction, quench the Light of our conscience, go against our better knowledge until finally, unfortunately and sadly, God gives us over to our evil heart’s desire – life apart from Him. Woe to those from whom Christ departs. Those who live in unbelief are forever undone if this be the condition they should die in.
“We judge things by their present appearance; but the Lord sees them in their consequences. If we could do the same we would be perfectly of His mind; but since we can’t, it is an unspeakable mercy that He will manage for us, whether we are pleased with His management or not; and it is regarded as one of His heaviest judgments when He gives any person up to the way of their own hearts, and to walk according to their own wisdom.” John Newton
Scripture tells us the following in Proverbs:
22 "How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? 23 If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. Prov 1:22-23 (NIV)
28 "Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me. 29 Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD, 30 since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, 31 they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. 32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm." Prov 1:28-33 (NIV)
“There is no safety but in seeking Christ while He may be found, and calling on Him while He is near, seeking Him with a true heart, and calling on Him with an honest spirit. Such seeking, we may be very sure, is never in vain. It will never be recorded of such seekers, that they ‘died in their sins.’ He that really comes to Christ shall never be ‘cast out’.” J. C. Ryle
31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live! Ezek 18:31-32 (NIV)
The breaking of Jesus’ heart over the lost is so evidently shown in the following verses:
37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. Matt 23:37-38 (NIV)
It is no wonder that Paul urges us on towards reconciliation with God by stating emphatically that now is the time for God’s favor - now is the day of salvation:
20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Cor 5:20-21 (NIV)
1 As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. 2 For he says,
"In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Cor 6:1-2 (NIV)