It’s no surprise that most people don’t base their lives on God’s commands. Unbelievers view the Most High’s advice as unnecessary because they judge the things that God condemns to be ordinary and acceptable behavior. But why? Why don’t people of the world see sin as sin? Why do they confuse righteousness with unrighteousness? And why don’t they believe in the judgment of God? Is it because they don’t believe that God will judge all people one day?

These questions have only one answer: because they haven’t been convicted of these things by the Holy Spirit.

This is why many people attend church but continue to live in sin, thinking that God’s grace will save them from hell. For the same reason, many religious people believe God will make an exception for them because they hold positions or titles in their denomination. This lack of godly conviction allows people to live as if God will never ask them to give an account for their actions.

Yet remember that it is not God’s fault that people are lost or that they fail to receive the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Our LORD has the power to convict, but we are the ones who have to create the right climate for Him to do so. The Word says that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34), but that unbelievers store up anger against themselves because of their hardness of heart and lack of repentance (Romans 2:5). The simple fact that people are not convicted by God is the greatest proof that they don’t have a sincere desire to know Him.

If you’ve ever lived with someone like this and tried to convince him or her of the truth, you probably failed. And you keep failing. But don’t be upset. That’s not your job — it’s the job of the Holy Spirit. And if you succeeded in changing someone’s mind, he isn’t truly converted yet because he was convinced by a person, not convicted by God. And the first person who comes along with a better argument than you, will convince him of the exact opposite once again.

Never forget to make your heart a place where God is free to work. Don’t allow the humility that you once had at first to be lost over time. Fight daily against every root of pride, selfishness and self-sufficiency. When we do this, we will be convicted by the entire Word of the Most High and will walk the path of faith. If not, the opposite will happen and the devil will convince you, because your heart will be open to his lies, and you will end up walking straight into death with bold strides.