The rebellious of this world didn't want God. They wanted their own form of "religion" that makes them feel safe but they did not want Him.
What didn't they want about Him? That He paid for their sin? That He might change them to bring joy and peace to their hearts? That He promises paradise with every wonderful and perfect thing never to be sick or troubled ever again?
Imagine being so addicted to self-will that someone would refuse all the blessings and wonders of God in order to be able to say something as silly as; "I did it my way." Hell awaits those who refuse the kindness and blessings of God for no other reason than just doing things your own way. I can't think of anything so utterly foolish as to defend what you want your own way when God's way is so much better.
No one can see and believe that God's way is better as long as their pride drives them to assert their own false goodness and perverted sense of right and wrong.
Isaiah 5:20-21
"20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
And clever in their own sight!"
Most people who attend churches today want a god made in their own image. One that allows them to sin all they want even though it leads to their destruction, even hell.
The problems people bring on themselves because of their rebellion against God is astounding. All of us who understand this could think of many ways and many people who ruin their own lives merely to follow their false feelings.
We can even think of many ways we failed because we went with our feelings instead of consulting with God first.
The wise people are those who learned from their failures, changed their ways and consult with God for everything before moving forward.
Trials are not an indication that we didn't consult God, often God takes us through things to teach us valuable lessons and to train us. I do not speak of sin here, God never leads us to sin. However, He will compel us to confess our sin to be cleansed from it.
Those who do not confess are not cleansed, even going to the end of their lives prideful that they justified their sin and failures by blaming others or denying they did anything wrong.
1 John 1:9
"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
It is a promise from God that IF we confess He will cleanse us. The reverse of that is if we refuse to confess He will not cleanse us.
Let that sink in a little, nothing is ignored by God and we will all be held accountable for our own stuff.
2 Corinthians 5:10
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."
