Evangelism is one of the most rewarding privileges God gives believers. We get to partner with the God of the universe as He draws people to Himself. But though it’s a rich privilege, it’s not an easy task; and one of the most difficult challenges we face is the temptation to give up. Too often we get what we perceive to be negative messages, and because this may be an area of insecurity or unbelief, we interpret these messages as rejection or disinterest.
This is the first of a two-part article in which we will look at biblical examples of relentless pursuit. In part two we will examine reasons we may be tempted to give up when sharing our faith, suggestions to help us persevere and real-time examples of believers who persevered through obstacles.
God Relentlessly Pursues Sinners to Save
God is the ultimate relentless pursuer of souls. We first see His pursuit of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 when they fell to the crafty lies of the tempter. In shame and fear they hid from God (as if that were possible). Then comes the most astounding question! God calls out, “Where are you?” Think about that question. Did He know where they were? Absolutely! Why then does He ask this rhetorical question? In part, God is letting them know that no matter where they are or what they have done, He is pursuing them.
Could there be a more poignant example of God’s pursuit of a man than that of Saul in Acts 9? Saul was ruthlessly murdering Christians in the name of God! God blinds him and cries out, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” ME? We feel God’s pain as He clearly claims the persecution of His children as His own. We hear God’s relentless pursuit as twice He calls Saul by name. I can only imagine the thoughts going through Saul’s mind when he asks, “Who are you, Lord?” The answer must have horrified Saul. “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” Jesus? Saul was going to great lengths to eliminate followers of Jesus, but was he really persecuting Jesus? Yes, he was – which makes God’s pursuit of Saul even more astounding. Saul’s life was radically changed because despite his cruelty, God pursued him…relentlessly pursued him.
Satan Relentlessly Pursues to Destroy
Satan is also pursuing sinners to keep them from salvation resulting in their eternal doom in hell. Who tempted Eve to give up on God’s way? Who tempted Jesus to essentially give up on being God? Who was behind Saul’s attempts to wipe Christians off the face of the earth? Satan, the father of lies. Satan tempts us to give up. In a mighty clash between good and evil, between Baal and God, Elijah calls on God to consume the sacrifice he has completely saturated with water. Fire fell from heaven and “licked up the water” (1 Kings 18:38). God wins the victory!
The devil, however, attempts to turn the story of victory to defeat. Jezebel threatens Elijah’s life. Elijah runs for his life and begs God to let him die. “I, even I only am left, and they seek my life, to take it away” (19:14). God doesn’t turn His back on Elijah in this time of despair. He relentlessly pursues him first with the wind, then an earthquake, the fire, “and after the fire the sound of a low whisper” (1 Kings 19:12). This is a small snapshot of the interchange between God and Elijah, but please notice that after Elijah was an eyewitness to God’s power, Satan tempted him. He got discouraged. He longed to give up. But God was present the entire time, relentlessly pursuing Elijah.
Though few among so many biblical examples, we can clearly see in Adam and Eve, in Elijah and in Saul turned Paul that God pursues sinners. Yes! Sinners. What causes us to give up on people? Often, it’s their sinfulness, their rejection, their unresponsiveness. Consider the Apostle Paul’s words to us in Ephesians 5:1 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” In God’s amazing love He sent His precious Son to live a radical life and die a radical death. Why? Because God so loved the world.
Not only do we see God as the supreme example of relentlessly pursuing people, He has chosen to pursue the lost through us. “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Romans 10:14)
When obstacles come your way as you share your faith (and they will) and you are tempted to give up, remember –
- It’s God who does the saving. “Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him and He will act” (Psalm 37:5).
- God is with you to help you. He who called you to go and make disciples of all nations, said, “behold, I am with you always, to the end of the ages.” And the God who called you, equipped you and sent you never gives up.
- Claim Scripture, determine to persevere and step out on faith. “Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted” (Hebrews 12:3).
Anna Musgrave is the Cofounder of The Exchange and serves as an Exchange Trainer with her husband Jeff. Contact Anna at anna@exchangemessage.org