Ever been there? You’ve talked and talked and no matter what evidence you give, what reason, what logic…nothing penetrates? You quote scriptures and give the principles. You present historical precedents and gather witnesses. But it doesn’t make a whit of difference to folks. They are not budging. You get the impression that they aren’t even listening or reasoning. Their minds are made up. When the impasse occurs, what can one say?
There are times in life when there is nothing you can say. There are times when you must simply move on. There is nothing defeatist in that situation. There is nothing shameful in that instance. Understand; in some cases, folks do not want to hear you. They cannot see past their own goals, agendas, and plans–or, their past resolves. Nothing will sway them. They have willed themselves to one position; and their own will keeps them locked where they are. John accounts in chapter five oF his Gospel that even the Miracle Worker, the Savior, himself, had those moments:
39You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
41″I do not accept praise from men, 42but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?
45″But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”
So what are we to say when there’s nothing that can be said that will make any difference? Perhaps nothing. Perhaps all we can do is pray for another. I have encountered this several times as I’ve shared the Word of God and the saving grace He gives through Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. Atheists listen to the words but do not hear them. Heathens set on living their life their way listen to my words but do not hear them. And that is their choice…to go their own way. What can I say but “have mercy on them Lord, for they know not what they do”.
My father once did that with me, and then God took me on a journey back to the cross where I heard Him loud and clear. Our job is to give the Word, plant the seeds. Sometimes others water, as so many in my life did before I found myself at Calvary’s base. But in the fullness of His time, the Lord of the Harvest will send forth the laborers and people like me will turn and seek the face of God. As my husband says, “We just need to keep on keeping on.” selahV
[copyrighted, SelahV Today, hariette petersen, 2009]