I realize that God doesn't get his way all the time.
I respectfully disagree. How would it be possible for the Creator of the Universe not to get his way?
"The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths" (
Psalm 135:6).
"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory" (
Ephesians 1:11-12).
People don't follow Christ for rewards. They do it because his words of peacemaking and mercy and forgiveness are truth and life...his words resonate as truth with their own hearts and enlivens them.
Are you saying that Jesus is a mere teacher?
What exactly was the point of Jesus' coming to Earth, his crucifixion, his resurrection from the dead? Just to give us words of hope and encouragement? What, then, makes him any different from, say, Mahatmas Gandhi?
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (
from Matthew 7)
What is the will of the Father? That we be witnesses and make disciples, for Jesus. In this life.
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (
Matthew 28:19-20).
Nothing said there about ; Hey guys you're forgiven 'IF YOU BELIEVE'. Jesus paid the price for ALL or none. And if the 'price is paid', then it is paid.
Yes, he paid the price. For whom? For all those who believe.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (
John 3:16, emphasis added)
I did not participate in the poll. The language is loaded, and none of the options appeal to me. My answer is:
God can do exactly what he wants to do, which is save all men. However, he gave all men the power the choose between following him, ignoring him, or disobeying him. Ignoring him and disobeying him have the same consequence: death. Our responsibility as Christians is to witness to God's power--not only his ability to change us in this life--but his desire and power to save us from impending doom.
Whether we get a "second chance" to reconcile with God after our earthly death is beyond our knowledge. We all hope for this, but we cannot put stock in it. That is a risk that God did not commission us to take.