Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - The Point of No Return - #4384

Thursday, October 30, 2003

My friend Gary was flying with a friend in a World War II vintage plane, and he was full of questions. "What's this dial? What's that light over there? What's this stick do?" Then Gary asked, "Now what's this red mark on the fuel gauge?" His pilot friend explained that the red marked the point in their fuel supply when they only had enough fuel to get back. So, if their mission wasn't completed, they had two choices: go on and finish the mission knowing they might not make it back, or turn around while there was still the opportunity. The pilot said, "That mark is what we call the point of no return."

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You about "The Point of No Return."

Surprisingly, you could be at that point right now and not even know it. It's a point where the decision you make literally determines your destiny - your decision about Jesus Christ, that is.

In our word for today from the Word of God in John 12:37 , we are there as some people literally reach the spiritual point of no return without ever knowing it. It says, "Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in Him." Then comes this sobering statement two verses later, "For this reason they could not believe."

Those are some of the New Testament's most chilling words. "They would not believe" in Jesus and then "they could not believe." Why? Well, in Genesis 6:3 , God says, "My Spirit will not always strive with man." There's a point at which God will no longer continue giving chances to respond to Him. That's why, in Isaiah 55:6 , God tells us to "seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near."

The Bible says you come to God when He's ready, not when you're ready. And every time you hear God's voice beckoning you to trust Jesus and His death on the cross for your sin and you just sit there, another layer of hardness comes over your heart. And there literally comes a time when you cannot respond to the Lord anymore.

The people in the greatest danger of crossing this point of no return are those who have heard the message of Jesus' love most often. That might be you. You've heard the voice of Jesus over and over, but you've never really responded and given yourself totally to Him. You may know the verses, the songs - you may even be serving the Lord - but you and Jesus know that you don't belong to Him.

And no one can be sure how much longer God's Spirit will say, "Come to Jesus." If you can still sense that stirring in your heart, that tug in Jesus' direction, then it's not too late today. Tomorrow might be. You never know when you've said no to Jesus for the last - and fatal - time. It is an awful thing to go into eternity with your sins unforgiven all because you said "No" once too often to the Savior who gave His life for you.

If you're not sure you've committed yourself to Jesus, please do it today before you cross God's point of no return. Tell Him right where you are that you're putting your total trust in Him to be your Savior from your sin, to take you to heaven when you die. If you're ready to belong to Jesus, I would love to send you the booklet I wrote about this relationship called "Yours For Life." Just let me know you want it.

Thank God, Jesus has come to you again, offering you His love. But this is the only guaranteed opportunity you have. Eternity is too close and too long to risk one more day without Jesus.