Next Stop, Hell: Stubborn People – The Reality of Rejecting God

Let me start by saying this: I know we all like to think of ourselves as “good” people. And most of us, on the surface, are probably nicer than some folks out there, right? But here's the thing: we all have a stubborn streak—that little voice inside that says, “I know better” even when we know we don’t.

We’ve all seen it. You know the type—the kind of person who refuses to listen, even when they know they’re wrong. I’m not just talking about the person who refuses to ask for directions when they’re lost (though, we’ve all been there too). I’m talking about the kind of stubbornness that refuses to listen to God, even when He’s knocking on your door.

The Truth Is Everyone Knows God Exists

The Bible says in Romans 1:20:

"For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."

Let me break this down for you. What this verse is saying is that everyone—yes, EVERYONE—knows God exists. There’s no such thing as an atheist. I don’t care if they have a “No God” bumper sticker on their car or they argue with you at the coffee shop. Deep down, inside their hearts, every person knows that God is real. You can look at the stars in the sky, the ocean waves crashing on the shore, or the beauty of a sunset and KNOW that something, or rather, SOMEONE, created all of it. God’s fingerprint is everywhere in creation.

But here’s where things get tricky: Stubborn people refuse to listen. Some folks will stand there, arms crossed, stubborn as a mule, and say, “I don’t believe in God.” But the truth is—they’re not rejecting a lack of evidence, they’re rejecting the evidence that’s staring them in the face. God exists, and He’s made Himself known!

The Stubbornness of Rejecting Salvation

But we’re not just talking about folks who say, “I’m not sure.” We’re talking about the ones who hear the gospel message over and over again—who’ve been warned, who’ve been told about the good news of salvation—and yet still refuse to listen. It’s like the person who’s been told to get out of the rain but refuses to move, then complains about getting soaked.

Jesus came into the world, lived a perfect life, and died for our sins so that we could be saved, but some people still say, “No, thanks. I’m good.” And let’s be real—there’s no amount of pleading, no miracle that will get them to change their minds because they’re too stubborn.

It’s like a parent telling a child, “Don’t touch the stove, it’s hot!” and the child stubbornly reaching for it anyway. What happens? The child burns themselves. But guess what? That’s their choice.

God is giving you a choice too: Accept Him, or face the consequences.

The Harsh Reality of Judgment Day

Now, let me talk to you about something serious. I want you to really hear me out on this because I’m not here to sugar-coat things. We’re talking about eternity, people.

Eternity. That’s forever. I know, we like to think we have all the time in the world, but the truth is—time is ticking. Tomorrow is not promised to us, any one of us could die at any moment from any number of circumstances. Each day you are not saved is a day you are literally gambling with your soul. Forget about losing $100 at a casino, this is losing your SOUL!

The Bible is clear about the harsh reality of judgment day for those who continually reject God.

In Revelation 20:15, it says:

"Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire."

Now, I’m not going to sugar-coat this—hell is real, and it’s not a place you want to be. It’s not just some fiery furnace where people can "chill out" with their friends and have a good time. No, no. The Bible describes it as a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:42).

That’s the kind of thing that will make you rethink every time you said, “Eh, I’ll deal with God later.” If you refuse to accept salvation and Jesus Christ as your Savior, the reality is that you’re choosing to separate yourself from God forever. And without God, the truth is, there is nothing good left. It’s darkness, pain, and torment for eternity.

Forever. Not just for a weekend. Not for a hundred years. But forever. That’s a long time. Imagine being stuck in a room that’s on fire, and no one is coming to help. That’s hell.

The Stubbornness That Leads to Destruction

We can be stubborn in many areas of life—whether it’s refusing to ask for help when we’re lost, or stubbornly not going to the doctor when we know something’s wrong. But there’s no place for that kind of stubbornness when it comes to salvation.

If you refuse the free gift of grace that Jesus offers, you are not just being stubborn—you're setting yourself up for destruction. You are choosing to live in a world of darkness, pain, and regret.

And here's the thing: God doesn’t want that for you. He doesn’t want you to go through life and make decisions that will lead to your eternal separation from Him. He’s made it clear that salvation is free for the taking, but it’s your choice. It’s up to you.

What Can You Do About It?

So, what should we do with this? Well, first of all, if you are hearing this today and you know you’ve been stubborn about accepting Jesus, it’s time to make a change. Today is the day. Don’t wait another second.

And for those of us who are already saved, it’s time to stop getting frustrated with stubborn people who refuse to listen. Yes, it’s hard to see loved ones reject the truth, but remember, it’s their choice. We can pray for them, love them, and share the truth with them, but we cannot force them. Only God can open their eyes.

Conclusion: Stop Being Stubborn

So, let me wrap this up with a little humor. Imagine you're standing at the door of heaven, and you knock. You know it’s God’s house, but someone answers and says, “Sorry, we don’t take stubborn people here.” Then you reply, "Oh, but I thought I could get in because I was good enough!" And God might just look at you and say, "I never asked for you to be good enough. I asked you to trust My Son and accept My grace."

Don’t be the person who shows up at the door with a “stubborn” sticker on their forehead. Instead, be the person who humbly accepts God’s grace and runs toward salvation.

God is offering you life—don’t stubbornly reject it. 

Choose life, choose Jesus, and choose the way of salvation today.

Amen.