Stubborn

Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall (Ezekiel 18:30).

Human beings are stubborn. Take cranberries, for example. As they grow on the bush, cranberries are inedible. Yet man was too stubborn to let that little red fruit go to waste, and eventually someone figured out how to make it tasty. Or consider tobacco. How did anyone get the idea of setting those leaves on fire and sucking on the fumes? Sheer human stubbornness.

Stubbornness can sometimes be a good thing. Two stubborn brothers ignored the naysayers and eventually built the first working airplane. But stubbornness often results in trouble. How many politicians have stubbornly refused to admit that they did something wrong and it cost them their careers? How many husbands or wives have stubbornly insisted on having things their way and are now divorced?

Sometimes stubbornness comes from being sure that you’re right and everyone else is wrong. Sometimes stubbornness comes from a fear of change. Sometimes you are right and should stick to your guns; sometimes change is going to make things worse, and should be resisted. But sometimes you are wrong; you don’t have all the facts or you don’t really understand the situation. Sometimes change is needed, and you have to stop being selfish in wanting things to stay the same because that’s the way you like it.

Christians have trouble with stubbornness, just like everyone else. God has spoken to us through His Bible; sometimes we are faithful to His Word, other times we twist it to suit our own personal preferences and get mad when someone challenges our misinterpretation. Jesus wants us to share the Good News of His salvation with everyone; sometimes we are willing messengers, but other times we stubbornly refuse to associate with people who are different—different in skin color, native language, or favorite style of worship. Sometimes our stubbornness shows our commitment to Christ; but a lot of the time, our stubbornness just causes problems—especially when we refuse to admit that we are wrong and need Jesus to forgive us.

Thankfully, Christ is stubborn too. He doesn’t give up on us easily. He suffered and died to forgive our bad behavior. He went to such great lengths because he wants us to be covered with His righteousness and filled with His love. No matter what you’ve done in life, Jesus is not ready to give up on you.