Hoping Against Hope

There comes a time where you just have to stop.  I know, kind of a general statement, lol.  I’ve spent a long time in debates over the years, and in reference to the opening sentence, there is just a time where you have to stop the debate.  Yes, it applies to other areas too.  Anytime where you find your efforts are fruitless and futile, it may be time to move on.

Sometimes it takes a long time to get to that point, other times it becomes obvious rather quickly.  Sometimes we can hang in far longer than we should have just in the hopes that we can maybe get that desired breakthrough, but then you realize you were hoping against hope for something that was never going to be or happen.  The ideal does not comport with reality.

Now, we don’t make this kind of investment for something that is not at least worthy of the reward.  When you stick in the game for that long, it is for something important.  It’s not just playing a game to put that much investment into something.  There are heavy stakes on the line; something that can affect the rest of life, and beyond.

For the Christian, we do this battle for the eternal soul.  We, having been filled with the love of God have no desire that any person should perish, but that all would come to saving grace and eternal life.  This is a forever thing.  Sometimes that desire is so strong for others that perhaps we try and do a little too much ourselves. 

When it comes to rescuing others from themselves, it is not we who do it, but the holy spirit; God himself.  We have to remember that we are merely the instruments in His hands.   We ourselves don’t save anyone.  If the message is not being received, it is time to move on, shake the dust off our shoes and go to where the message will be received with gladness.