Most believers have tried to share their faith with a friend or co-worker going through a hard time.

They naturally presume their friend NEEDS God, especially when facing a crisis.

But then unhesitatingly, their friend fires back a strong refusal to their well-meaning overtures and it’s “game on.”

Instead of stopping and praying, the Christian “dumps the truck” with more Bible verses, fliers, books, websites — the whole nine yards.

A few more rounds of this, and their friend angrily hardens in their position, and their “friendship” ends up teetering on the brink. What to do?

Heart of the Matter

I was the “target” of a similar onslaught before I was a Christian, and I felt like just another notch on the gun belts of my pursuers.

Despite my carefully devised avoidance schemes, the posse often broke through and caught me unaware, only to unload more religious “data” (even cassette tapes, remember those?) on my doorstep.

The trouble is, they were missing the whole point. 

I didn’t WANT God in my life. The implications were way too invasive.

Sure, I had problems and trials, but to invite an interfering school “marm” who is strict and priggish into my life (that’s how I saw God) would just make things more oppressive, or so I thought.

Besides, I wanted to keep my options open. I liked my sin, and running my own life seemed like the manly thing to do. Why spoil the party?

I had a “wanter” problem.

Consequences of Refusing God

I didn’t know it, but by “playing the field” religiously, I was playing with fire.

The Book of Romans — specifically Romans 1:18-23 — describes people like me (before conversion):

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse.For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools …”

Yup, that was me.

The late Bill MacDonald, author of Believer’s Bible Commentary, wrote, “Although they knew God by His works, they did not glorify Him for who He is or thank Him for all He has done. Rather, they gave themselves over to futile philosophies and speculations about other gods, and as a result, lost the capacity to see and think clearly. Light rejected is light denied.”

Those who don’t want to see lose the capacity to see.

“As men grew more conceited over their self-styled knowledge, they plunged deeper into ignorance and nonsense. These two things always characterize those who reject the knowledge of God — they become insufferably conceited and abysmally ignorant at the same time.”

Ouch!

And just as damaging, I was the living embodiment of Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 3:7, “… always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

I was a degreed mechanical engineer with business experience and an abundance of “street smarts,” but dumb as a stump spiritually. God needed to break into my self-imposed prison of pride … and He did eventually.

There isn’t space to tell the whole story, but He figuratively waved me over Hell, and I emerged from that experience, shaken to the core, singed eyebrows and all.

I wasn’t nearly as smart as I thought.

‘Wanter’ Transplant

Prior to conversion, all my wants were self-serving. There was no room for God in such a closed system of self-aggrandizement. I’m forever thankful He didn’t leave me there.

Scripture explains in Romans 5:5-6, “the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”

When God revealed to me that I was a Hell-deserving wretch, He also revealed that, while I may be helpless, God is not.

Concurrent with my conversion through faith in Christ, He sent the indwelling Holy Spirit to be my new “Wanter,” guiding me through my Christian life.

No more DIY living.

How About You?

Do you still find yourself hankering for all the wrong things? How about a “wanter” transplant through the Holy Spirit?

Jesus said, “Come to me all …”