3 O Lord, do not Your eyes look for truth?
You have smitten them,
But they did not weaken;
You have consumed them,
But they refused to take correction.
They have made their faces harder than rock;
They have refused to repent. Jeremiah 5:3 (NASB)
Obstinate refusal to bow the knee to the Lordship of Christ is not always apparent or observable in professing Christians….
Unlike men such as the late George Carlin, their rebellion is often shrouded in ceremonies, religiosity, morality, good works, and the like. They may have been convicted to repent, but instead of doing so they remain turned from God as they pursue their own way of placating their conscience. This is attempting to be a Christian on ones own terms.
George Carlin was among those who honestly declared that they will never quit their sinful ways. However, there are other people who have promised to repent, but have not done so. Others, such as formatlists, mere professors, and hypocrites, have a form of godliness, but it is only a show. Therefore, there are people who have heard the truth, have heard the Gospel, yet they refuse to repent. Even though this may disturb us, we must come to grips with the fact that there will be untold numbers of people who will not repent and be saved.