I really love Acts 26:29.
Paul replied, “I pray to God that whether in a short or a long time not only you but also all those who are listening to me today could become such as I am, except for these chains.”
A few weeks back I was reading an excerpt from a sermon by Spurgeon. The sermon was titled “To Those Who Are Almost Persuaded”. In the sermon, he asked “What is the reason that Agrippa is not persuaded?”
Agrippa said to Paul, “In such a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?” –Acts 26:28
The question reminded me of another part of the story from a few weeks back – A Hard Truth. One of the men in this class asked why some people do not accept Jesus. The teacher gave an example of being like a child and having a choice between cake and a mean looking dog. I was never able to grasp the meaning of his story because children given a choice will “always” pick the cake (I don’t like absolutes but needed to use it here). People do not always pick faith in Jesus. Most people pick their sin.
Why do they pick their sin? Because they love their sin.
So I ask – how do people overcome the love they have for their sins? I believe that only the love Christ has for us can overcome the love we have for our sins. I think about my own life and can see that this holds true.
Prior to the point God saved me, I loved my sin. I would have gladly stayed there enjoying it forever. I would have been satisfied with believing I was saved and keeping those secret sins. And God would have been fully justified in sending me to hell for eternity.
After God saved me, I love my sin less and less as I see how offensive it is to God. He breaks down the love for sin and gives me both the desire and the effort to work out my salvation with awe and reference (Philippians 2:12). His grace sets me free.
Question; is Jesus the cake or the mean dog? It looks to me like He is the dog, and thus the more difficult choice, that’s why people choose their cake, sin. It’s fun, tasty, and easy to handle. I’m assuming that’s what is going on in that reference.
*I read it several times to see which way you saw it, but couldn’t tell from what you posted.
The person who shared that implied that Jesus was the cake. The entire thing made no sense to me.
Yea, it doesn’t make any sense in that instance, it’s because they were confused. Jesus isn’t the easy thing, He’s the hard thing.