My question is how do we know when to walk away? Part 2: If there comes a time when we need to walk away, doesn’t that pretty much make that person beyond the reach of God?

Part 1: No one is beyond the reach of God and yet Jesus says do not throw your pearls before swine and do not give that which is holy to dogs. My question is how do we know when to walk away? Part 2: If there comes a time when we need to walk away, doesn’t that pretty much make that person beyond the reach of God? If no one is beyond God’s reach and He desires everyone to be saved, then why do the majority of people get sent to hell?
The verse is actually from the Sermon on the Mount, and it says: Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces—Jesus Christ, Matthew 7:6. Now, what is Christ saying? He is not talking about mere unbelievers, but rather He is referring to those who hate the truth, who are enemies of the gospel. Jesus is essentially telling His disciples to leave such people alone. Essentially, He is saying that such people are a waste of time, since they have no appreciation for what is being presented to them, much as pigs would have no appreciation for pearls being thrown into their pen. We should invest our time in those eager to listen. How do we know the difference? The Holy Spirit will prompt us, letting us know when a conversation is “going nowhere.” As human beings, we’ve been in those conversations where we knew our words were not being received at any level, bringing us to that “what’s the point” place of letting the conversation come to an end. This is really no different.

Our walking away from someone by no means condemns them to never hearing the gospel again. We may simply not be the right one to present the gospel to them. Many times family members or close friends may fall into this category. It’s just going to go better if the same words are coming from someone else. Jesus practiced this—believe it or not. Remember the story of the rich young ruler? When Jesus presented Him with the opportunity to embrace the Kingdom of God, the price that was attached was too much. The young man went away—sorrowing, literally in funeral mode, according to Scripture. The Bible never says that Jesus ran after him. But that doesn’t mean that moment was that young man’s only opportunity. Maybe with reflection, maybe years later with maturity, would come an understanding of what Jesus was offering that drove that man to his knees. Another time: When Jesus was arrested and was being sent to different officials, one of them was King Herod—the same guy who had had John the Baptist killed. The Bible says Jesus said nothing to him. He understood King Herod had no interest in anything He might say—particularly anything that related to the Kingdom of God. Did Herod need salvation? Absolutely! But he wasn’t seeking it then.

It is very true that no one is beyond the reach of God. It is also true that, as Jesus said, Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it—Jesus Christ, the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7:13-14. But no one gets sent to hell; they request it by rejecting the means by which the Kingdom of God becomes available to them—Jesus Christ. We are creatures made with free will. In a way that ultimately only God understands, rejection of all that Christ offers is allowed to be made. The consequence of that choice is hell. Free will is why Jesus said, Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me—Jesus Christ, Revelation 3:20. True love doesn’t force. It asks.