Do you have a family member who has said NO every time you have tried to speak to them about surrendering to Christ? How about a friend who has done the same? Have you ever been discouraged by their refusal? Have you considered giving up on them? Let me encourage you from the scriptures: DON’T GIVE UP ON THEM! THE COLDEST HEART CAN MELT!
Example #1- Who ever had a colder heart than Israel’s King Ahab? NOBODY! And not only did he have the coldest heart, but he married the coldest female heart in the entire region: Jezebel. Ahab was the measuring stick for wickedness and evil - 1 Kgs. 21:25-26; 16:32-33 So how does he fit in an article about “melting”? Check out 1 Kgs. 21:27-29 “When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly. Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: ‘Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.’ ”
What caused this humility before the LORD? Ahab had received a disastrous death prophecy from the LORD because of his wicked deeds. That prophecy brought Ahab to his knees. If Ahab can find humility before the LORD, then your family member or friend might do the same before they die. Don’t give up on them. NOTE: Ahab returned to wickedness.
Example #2- Who makes the top 10 for the coldest heart ever? Well, Judah’s King Manasseh would surely give everyone a run for the money. Manasseh’s list of wickedness can be found in 2 Kgs. 21:2-9 & 2 Chr. 33:2-9. Included in that list: he sacrificed his own son in the fire as part of his occult worship, he built idols as Ahab had done, he put an Asherah pole in the Temple of the LORD, he did more evil than the surrounding pagan nations and he shed so much innocent blood that he filled the streets of Jerusalem from end to end. I told you he could give anyone a run for the money. Then, like Ahab, Manasseh also received a disastrous prophecy of destruction from the LORD. However, unlike Ahab, Manasseh ignored the prophecy. Therefore, he was captured by Assyria, who put a hook in his nose, bound him in bronze shackles and took him to Babylon.
That is when the “melting” occurred. 2 Chr. 33:12-13 In his distress he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God. Lesson? Don’t give up on your hard-hearted family member or friend. If Manasseh can repent and humble himself, maybe your relative/friend can too. NOTE: Manasseh remained penitent.
Example #3- Saul of Tarsus, later known as Paul the apostle, has enough evidence to make that top 10 cold heart list too. He fully approved and supported the stoning of Steven and “But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.” Ac 8:3 Then in Acts 9 he wasn’t content with persecuting the Christians in the Jerusalem area, but acquired papers to travel to Damascus so that he could extradite Christians there back to Jerusalem for imprisonment, torture and death.
Then his “melting” occurred in Acts 9 and he was never the evil persecutor again, but lived as a faithful servant of the LORD and was executed as a martyr for that faith.
If Ahab, Manasseh and Saul can find humility before the LORD, the same is possible for you relative/friend. And if Manasseh and Saul can remain penitent for the reminder of their lives and die faithful, then the same is possible for your relative/friend.
DON’T GIVE UP ON THEM!
THEIR COLD HEART MAY MELT ONE DAY.
PRAY FOR THEM EVERYDAY.
WITNESS TO THEM AGAIN WHEN YOU HAVE OPPORTUNITY.
Mike Sublett is a pastor at Hi-Land Christian Church, 1615 N. Banks St., Pampa, Texas 79065. Email him at pawdad@nts-online.net.
