God Will Not Always Strive With Man

"And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them." Genesis 6:1-7 (KJV)

"And Jehovah saith, `My Spirit doth not strive in man -- to the age; in their erring they [are] flesh:' and his days have been an hundred and twenty years. The fallen ones were in the earth in those days, and even afterwards when sons of God come in unto daughters of men, and they have borne to them -- they [are] the heroes, who, from of old, [are] the men of name. And Jehovah seeth that abundant [is] the wickedness of man in the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart only evil all the day; and Jehovah repenteth that He hath made man in the earth, and He grieveth Himself -- unto His heart. And Jehovah saith, `I wipe away man whom I have prepared from off the face of the ground, from man unto beast, unto creeping thing, and unto fowl of the heavens, for I have repented that I have made them.' " Genesis 6:1-7 (Young's Literal Translation)

Here we see the oft quoted statement that God will not always strive with man, that His patience for man to repent can and will reach a place where God withdraws His Spirit. However there must be understanding of this passage and what it really means as there are supporting statements as well.

There was a specific reason why God said this, it was because of the evil that was in the world, "God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."

This led to what God would do because of this wickedness, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them." 

Now this all happened during the time of Noah, and indeed God destroyed all of creation, except Noah's family, and two of each kind of beast. So God's decision to decide upon such destruction on man was tied directly to his sin as "every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."
So after going through this exercise to understand the context of this statement "God will not always strive with man" we again see that many pull it out of context. But this statement does bear witness of God today, and what will happen to man corporately (together or in general) and man specifically.

It tells us in Romans 6:23 (KJV) that, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." So doesn't this make sense now that we see that God will not strive with man forever? When life is completed, if we haven't repented, and renewed by the gift of Salvation, we will be rewarded with death because of our sins.

"But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live." Ezekiel 18:21&22 (KJV).   

God is a just God, and in that we have redemption and hope. But we do have to do it in the time that God has given us. And to those that deem a death bed repentance is sufficient for this to happen have not understood what God has said. 
  
With "keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die" how can one keep statues and do what is lawful and right if you are dieing, and upon one's deathbed? 

And then:

"But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die." Ezekiel 18:24 (KJV).   

So this principle of sin and rebirth goes both ways. Sin and embrace it you die, be righteous and embrace it you live. But again you have limited time for these choices that have life and death in them. 
  
Indeed "God's spirit shall not always strive with man." We must walk uprightly, before the throne of God, for we know not when God may call us home. And even then we must be in a place with our walk that glorifies God, and does not grieve God's spirit. And there are many things that people of faith tolerate in their lives that do precisely that, grieve God. 
  
Let us not be in a place where "repented the LORD that he had made man". 
  
Be blessed, be loved and be at peace. May the light of God's glory and presence fire the brilliance of your souls. You are greatly loved.