Clinging to what is hopeless

A friend recently asked me, “Why does Satan keep on fighting?  He knows he’s lost.  Why doesn’t he give up?” 

Other people have put the question another way, “Why doesn’t Satan repent?  Can he repent?”

They are interesting questions, but ones for which I have no real answers.

It would seem logical that Satan could repent if he wanted to.  I’m no theologian, but my guess is that while he could, he won’t.  His heart is too hardened against God and has been for eons.

We see this kind of attitude not only in Satan, however, but in humans as well. 

We certainly see it in this passage. 

The Israelites had turned their backs on God, and as a result, they were in exile. (Isaiah speaks of this event as if it had already happened). 

But despite seeing the fruitlessness of worshiping false idols, the people refused to repent.

Isaiah says of them,

You were wearied by all your ways, but you would not say,  ‘It is hopeless.’ 

You found renewal of strength, and so you did not faint. 

Whom have you so dreaded and feared that you have been false to me, and have neither remembered me nor pondered this in your heart?  (Isaiah 57:10-11)

Verse 10 is almost a twisted version of Isaiah 40:29-31 where God says that he will renew the strength of those who wait on him, that they should not grow weary or faint. 

But in this case, though the people were wearied by their own sins, and saw the hopelessness of their situation, still they would not give up on their rebellion against God. 

Instead, they “found renewal of strength” in themselves, clinging to their sins.  But in the end, their sin would destroy them.

How about you? Are you clinging to your own ways even though you see it’s hopeless to do so.  

Don’t be hard hearted as the Israelites were.  Give up on doing things your way, and start doing things his. 

Your way will lead to destruction.  But God’s way will lead to life.

Which will you choose?