Do you know anyone who is too far gone to return to God? Some people have hardened themselves to God’s word. Others have passionately embraced sin. Some people seem so profane that only a miracle could make them confess their need for God. Ahab was such a man. Few people in biblical history rank as high as he does on the “hardened sinner” scale as he does. Married to Jezebel, he reached new depths in sinfulness and abominations. One would think there was nothing that could turn his calloused heart back to God.
But only God knows peoples’ hearts. In fact, there was a moment in Ahab’s debauched life when he realized he had gone too far. God’s judgment was imminent and it terrified the wicked ruler. Ahab, the opponent of Elijah, actually humbled himself and asked for God’s mercy. How did God respond when the wickedest king to rule Israel pled for mercy? God showed him grace. If there was ever a person who did not deserve mercy it was him. But God loved Ahab. God desired for him to him to repent of his sins and to return to the true God. Right to the end of Ahab’s life, God was reaching out to him and warning him of where his rebellion would lead. Ultimately Ahab chose to reject God’s grace and to embark on his own destructive path. But God gave him a chance. In Ahab’s case, he chose rebellion. In the case of murderers such as Moses, David, and Saul of Tarsus, God’s grace brought transformation.
Is there someone you work with or deal with that you would rank in the category of Ahab? Has God given up on him or her? Have you? When we give up on anyone, we are saying we believe there are people so difficult even God’s grace is insufficient to set them free.