“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God
for Israel is that they may be saved”
(Romans 10:1).
A person or situation that has reached a limit with no solution is often called a “lost cause.” In Romans, Paul is referring to those who sought their own righteousness instead of God’s righteousness, who trusted in their own merits rather than Christ’s merits, who did things their way and not God’s way, and who followed their plans instead of God’s. However, as an apostle of Jesus Christ, he did not consider them to be a lost cause.
Then what did Paul do with these mistaken Jews? He did three things:
- He treated them like brethren.
- He had a fervent desire in his heart.
- He prayed for their salvation.
All this confirms that God does not impose or exclude salvation, but offers it to all repeatedly and insistently, always seeking to save.
The apostle used the term “brethren” many times to represent affection, friendship, and love. He did not stop loving them because they had rejected him. On the contrary, he continued loving them, and the most fervent desire of his heart was their salvation.
In ancient Roman sculptures, the sculptor’s inexperienced hand could use his tool incorrectly and produce a flaw in the sculpture, which dishonest people filled in with wax. This deception solved the problem only momentarily, because when the sun warmed the wax, it melted. On the other hand, the honest sculptor who had done an honest job placed a sign that said in Latin: sine cera. This implied tha absence of an element that “masked” and concealed the defect. Some claim that this is the origin of the word “sincere.” Others maintain that it comes from a face that is free from wax, that is, free of make-up. Whatever the case may be, the truth is that sincere persons are just the way they say they are. They are truthful, do not hide anything, and always have pure motives.
“Many of the children of believing parents, children who have been trained in the Sabbath school, and are familiar with the Scriptures, have yet no interest in religion. Under the most powerful appeals of the Holy Spirit, they seem as unmoved as if chiseled out of stone. What can be done to break the spell which satan has cast upon these souls? I can see no help, except as parents shall present their children at the throne of grace, in humble, earnest, believing prayer, entreating the Lord to work with their efforts and the efforts of their ministers, until conviction and conversion shall be the result” (Pastorial Ministry, p. 279).
Today you may have a relative, friend, or child
who is rejecting the Lord and His message.
I would like to tell you that there is never a lost cause for God.
Do not give up, and follow Paul’s advice: always treat them
with affection and love, act with sincerity, and pray a lot.
God bless you, may He fill you with the Fruits of the Spirit…