43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."
With great sorrow, Jesus predicts the destruction of Jerusalem because of their lack of acceptance of Him. Pulling at His heartstrings, Jesus rejects Jerusalem because Jerusalem rejects Jesus. Scripture gives us clarity over God’s heart for the lost:
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
While the Bible certainly does not teach Universal salvation, it is God’s heart for none to perish but for all men to be saved - all the while knowing many will reject His offer of grace - hence His sorrow. Paul tells us in Timothy:
3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Tim 2:3-4 (NIV)
Again, God states in Ezekiel His heart over the lost:
23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? Ezek 18:23 (NIV)
God is a God of grace who longs for people to turn from their wickedness to His righteousness for their good and His glory. Jesus tells us to “Come” – and He will in no way cast us aside:
37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:37-40 (NIV)
“How could a tender mother’s heart cast out her sick child calling for help? Come, my poor soul, come only as thou canst. Better to come in a cold, fearful, and miserable condition, than not at all; for if we cannot come boldly to Christ with a strong faith, we must even come trembling, just as we are: nor will such coming be offensive to Christ; for He says, ‘Him that cometh,’ come how he will, ‘I will in no wise cast out.’ A feeling of joy is not needful to bring us to Christ, but a feeling of our wants; for it is not required to bring any money of our own worthiness, but only the whole heap of our misery along with us, and desire grace. God does not look upon the sensible joy of faith, (for this is his particular gift, which He could soon give if need was,) but upon the sincerity, application, and earnestness of a poor sinner.” K.H. Von Bogatzky
While it is certainly true that God desires for none to perish, there is also a responsibility for our culpability that should not go unnoticed – our verses for today point to this truth – they had not recognized the time of God’s coming to them and they were held accountable for the light they had received. We find this supported in Scripture – two sites given below:
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. 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 5:20- 2 Cor 6:1-2 (NIV)
12 See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. 15 As has just been said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion." Heb 3:12-15 (NIV)
“There is a great deal of deceitfulness in sin; it promises much, but performs nothing. The deceitfulness of sin is of a hardening nature. Every act of sin confirms the habit...He comforts those who not only set out well, but hold out well, and hold out to the end.” Matthew Henry
God will have a remnant obedient to His voice. Will we be a part?