The "Unconvertable"

As I was studying Matthew 27 a few moments ago, the thought occurred to me that the very same people who cried out "Let Him be crucified" (vs. 22-23) and later mocked Jesus while He hung on the cross, were some of the same people who, fifty days later, said, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). They became the first members of a movement that would reshape history for the cause of Christ and glory of God.

Then I thought of Saul the Pharisee, a man who hated everything about Jesus and the church...so much so, in fact, that he made it his life's work to stamp out Christianity. "As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison" (Acts 8:3). But this same hateful, violent man was soon humbled by the grace of Christ. He was baptized and "immediately...preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. Then all who heard were amazed, and said, 'Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem?'" (Acts 9:18-21). Saul of Tarsus is better known to us as Paul the apostle.

And then I thought of wicked king Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian ruler of the 6th century B.C. who worshiped pagan gods and persecuted God's servants and prophets (Daniel 2-3). What hope was there for such a powerful, wicked man? None, right? Wrong! God humbled Nebuchadnezzar to the point that he said the following, as recorded in Daniel 4:34-37...

"And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, 'What have you done?'...Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down."

I've often wondered if this reform lasted in Nebuchadnezzar's life, and if I'll possibly see him in heaven one day. This passage gives me hope that I will.

Darius, the great king of Persia, was greatly impacted by Daniel as well (Dan. 6). He honored God and made the decree "that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel" (Dan. 6:26).

The wicked pagans of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah.

Manasseh, one of the most wicked kings of Israel, eventually "humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to Him...then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God" (2 Chron. 33:12-13).

There are many other examples of radical conversion in the Scriptures, of men and women who, despite all odds and presumptions to the contrary, came to know the Lord!

How is it possible?

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.' When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, 'Who then can be saved?' But Jesus looked at them and said to them, 'With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" (Matthew 19:23-26).

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16).

We all know people that we think will never come to Christ. The "unconvertables."

If we learn anything from these examples, it's that we should never assume this about anyone.

"With God, all things are possible." Let that sink in.

And then get to work "sowing the seed of the kingdom."