Matthew 11:20-24 ESV Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.
What does it take to make an unbelieving world repent? What does it take to make a hard heart soft? I honestly do not know the answer. What I do know is that miracles and signs are not the answer.
God does do miracles and I do believe the “sign gifts” are real but they do not convince those who choose not to believe. I’ve heard people say things like, “If only God would show Himself then people would believe.” History proves that is not the case.
In the passage above Jesus scolds those who refuse to believe despite the miracles and signs that happened regularly during his ministry. The miracles and signs drew people, but those who refused to believe were not convinced by them. For that matter, one of Jesus’ own disciples apparently remained unconvinced. Judas remained a thief who eventually sold Jesus out despite not only seeing the miracles but participating in them (Mark 6:7-13).
Miracles and signs are for God’s people, not the unrepentant. Miracles are one of the ways God blesses His people and signs are for their edification. Occasionally I hear stories of a person coming to Christ because of a miracle. That does happen but it is the exception rather than the rule.
I said above that I do not know what will convince a hard hearted person. That is not completely true. I do not know a sure fire way to convince obstinate people but I do know love is the Christian’s greatest evangelistic tool. When we love people the way God wants us to, it touches their heart like nothing else.
Lord, thank You for the mighty works that You do. I pray that You will increase my love so that I may show the world what You are really like.