They Simply Can't
“I am a companion of all who fear you,
and of those who keep your precepts.”
Psalm 119:63
As the saying goes, “Birds of a feather flock together.” And isn’t it true!
We are created spiritual beings, and we are attracted to others of the same spirit. If you find yourself in friendships with unbelievers, don’t think you can resist the influence they will have over you. You can’t. Our friends have a more powerful effect on our lives than we think. The Lord says:
“Come out from among them
and BE SEPARATE, says the Lord.”
2nd Corinthians 6:17
Why?
Spirit calls to spirit. When an unbeliever is put into a setting with a believer, that unbeliever is going to be very uncomfortable; they may be polite, but inside they can’t wait to get away. And when a believer is put into a setting with unbelievers the same is true, he may be polite but inside he is very uncomfortable.
I saw this very clearly when I went to my high school reunion. We graduated from a “religious” high school, so I was eager to find like minds at this reunion. But I was shocked - there wasn’t a believer among them. I sat there and endured their discussions on all things worldly; I tried to open a discussion about the Lord, always looking for an opportunity to share the faith, but not one responded. When a door doesn’t open I don’t force it, so I stopped talking and watched the clock, just waiting for the end so I could get out of there.
Brothers and sisters, don’t think it strange when you’re disliked or rejected, or ignored. It’s not you, it’s the Spirit of God within you that the world cannot respond to. Don’t ever take it personally, wondering why you’re not included, wondering why you can’t connect. They CAN’T respond to you, they CAN’T connect with you. The most they can do is be polite, but you won’t get any closer to them than that. DON’T blame them, DON’T resent them, realize they are of a different spirit and it’s not possible for you to be “one of them.” Should you try to be “one of them” both you and they will be uncomfortable, and that’s just the truth.
“If the world hates you,
you know that it hated me before it hated you.
If you were of the world, the world would love its own,
yet because you are not of the world,
but I chose you out of the world,
therefore the world hates you.”
John 15:18-19
When you are in the world, look for an opening the Lord might create for you to minister to one or two of them. If he opens up the opportunity, speak to them about their eternal soul. If not, don’t try to force it. They won’t respond. They can’t.
This is where your prayer life comes in. We are called upon to intercede for those who reject the Gospel. Prayer is the most powerful tool we have in our walk with the Lord. Prayer is effective. Prayer changes things. It almost always will involve a long period of waiting so don’t get discouraged, no, persist.
For how long?
For as long as it takes. Your prayers can change the eternal destiny of a soul. Be patient, pray on even though you see no response, and at the end you’ll see the results of your prayers and you’ll be SO glad you did.
“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man
AVAILS MUCH.” James 5:16
So true and very timely for me since i have an article in the works on my computer similar to this! I had been procrastinating at least a week and a half so now I better get down to it. Also that John 15 verse is what I have been pondering. It's so true that people just cant see things if they are not in the Spirit. I can relate to your reunion experience. That stuff happens to me all the time. I am getting increasingly more uncomfortable around unbelievers. Some consider themselves believers yet their thinking and things they do show otherwise. Thankfully, I do know some very faithful people who are on the right track.
Praying is definitely the game changer, and you’re right, you have to be in it “for the long haul.” It’s a real blessing when you persevere and the answer finally comes!