Because of pride!

Mankind lay helpless in its bondage to sin. Man was sinful by nature, and had no strength to overcome sin. Everyone basically lived for himself, seeking his own pleasure, and accumulating guilt beyond repair. But he would not admit his helplessness nor ask God for help, but kept justifying himself and blaming everyone else for his misery.

God knew that giving out His laws would not be sufficient, because no man was able to keep all of it. And even if he broke just one law, he was still guilty and deserving punishment. Also, no matter what he might do, he could not make up for all the sins which he had already done. So God came with an astonishing offer. Jesus suffered the punishment for the sins of the whole world, the sinless God-Man bearing judgment on behalf of all sinners. All God asked man to do was to admit his sins and receive forgiveness freely as a gift. But most men were not willing.

It comes down to man's huge pride that does not want to acknowledge the reality of the sins he has committed and the punishment he deserves. The other side of his pride does not want to give up his freedom to run his own life. He is happy if God will just forgive his sins and take him to heaven, but he doesn't want to change his lifestyle and give up his pleasures.

God's offer is pure grace, something which man does not deserve and which he could never have achieved from his side. God offers it freely, but man would rather take the risk of 'an imaginary threat of hell' becoming finally true than humble himself, admit that he was wrong, and give up his sinful pleasures.

The Bible says, "in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2Cor.4:4). Those who have believed in the Saviour and received mercy and grace can acknowledge that this was our own condition before the light of the Gospel of Jesus entered our heart and dispelled the darkness of that blindness. We sing, "Was blind, but now I see." Now like those who have discovered a magic cure for a sickness they have suffered from for a long time want to tell everyone around them about the healing they have experienced, we want to tell everyone who will listen and even those who do not listen that the salvation which Jesus has brought is genuine, powerful and immeasurably valuable.

People hide behind intellectualism, science, reason, modern lifestyle, etc. But they must know that it is ultimately a proud unwillingness to look at the Gospel honestly, for fear of the possibility of having to admit they were mistaken, that hinders them from knowing the truth. This truth alone can give them the greatest break-through of their life. God promises us His greatest blessings to those who will believe in Him, not only for our life on earth, but especially in the eternity that is certainly very near. Who wants to end up on the wrong side, away from God, in eternity?