But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. (2 Kings 5 9-11)
Just as Naaman came with His horses and chariots and all the splendor of His person, he expected the prophet of God to come out to him. But Elisha sent out his servant with the message “go and wash in Jordan seven times and thou will be clean” and he was offended. Even so natural man is offended with the gospel of Jesus Christ, because it is not as they thought it should be.
There are many thoughts on how a man may be right with God as there are people to imagine them. The mind of man is so carnal and devoid of understanding of spiritual things, that he would believe anything but salvation by grace. The carnal mind of man is enmity against God, and it is not subject to the law of God neither indeed can be, for the things of God are foolishness to him. (Romans 8:7: 1 Cor. 2:14)
All men by nature are spiritual lepers that need to be cleansed. God has sent His servants saying “Come to Christ and believe on Him! Behold the Lamb of God that has accomplished salvation! Come lepers and wash by faith in His blood alone apart from works and you shall be cleansed!”
Why then will men not come? Why would men rather perish than believe? Is it not because they have said in their hearts “I thought”? But what saith the Lord?
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isa 55:6-9)
Every Sinner that comes to Christ by faith shall find cleansing of sin! Praise God that His thoughts are not mine. My thoughts were evil towards Him, but His thoughts to me were thoughts of peace in Christ My Savior. (Jer. 29:11) -- Fred Evans
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