We don't preach to save men...
The salvation of others is an incredible, wonderful part of our purpose in the will and plan of God, but the salvation of men is not our ultimate goal. If success in our preaching is determined by the salvation of others, then Jesus failed in His ministry while on earth as hundreds of his disciples abandoned Him at the end of His time here...
We are commanded to go and make disciples. We are told to bring the message of Christ to everyone. We are told that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (Romans 10:17). So, how can I say that the salvation of men is not why we preach?
Some preach so that others might be persuaded into likemindedness. Many preach that people would be comforted. There are some who preach in order to store up their good works to present to God one day. Each one who shares his faith in Christ with others, typically has a well-meaning reason, but is it a biblical one?
Look at what God's word says about it:
1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Whatever you do, it is to be done for the glory of God. Therefore, we do not preach that men would be saved, rather, we preach that God would be glorified. You may be wondering what the difference is in the two.
Consider the prophet's words in Isaiah 55:11:
So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
God's word does not always intend to accomplish salvation. Sometimes the word works in the opposite way. Look what Peter says in his letter "to the elect exiles" who have been scattered:
1 Peter 2:6-8
6 For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”[a]
8 and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
A stone had been laid, which was Christ and the message of His finished work on our behalf. This truth would go out and reach the hearts of every hearer. Some would build their faith upon it; others would reject it, "as they were destined to do."
Our ultimate goal cannot be to save every man. Every man will not be saved. Our goal must be to give God glory. If our ultimate goal were to make sure every man were saved, we might dilute the message so that it becomes more appealing to our hearers, as many preachers have done. We might lead people away from God by tweaking the truth to become more palatable.
Think about this, Peter stood against Jesus after hearing that He was going to be handed over and killed. Jesus turns and rebukes him sharply saying, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns (Matthew 16:23)."
Peter's ultimate goal was the safety of Jesus, but in putting his care for people above his desire to see God's will be done, he was sharply rebuked and named as the devil himself!
As we share God's magnificent truth, we gain freedom only if we realize that, whether someone repents and believes or rejects that word, the word itself did not return void, but accomplished the purpose for which it was sent out to do. It was never your job to save men anyway.
God told Moses:
Exodus 14:16-18
16 Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
Moses was to give God glory through obedience, and God said He would do the work in the hearts of the Egyptians.
The same is true as we share God's message to those lost and hurting. We are to give God glory through obediently speaking truth, and He will do the work in the hearts of men, as He plans and wills.
John 3:8
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
So, now rest. Rest in knowing that you aren't obligated to persuade men's hearts. Rest in knowing that your ultimate purpose is to glorify God, not to fix everyone. Be obedient in sharing though, so that as the Spirit moves in the hearts of men, you might be a partaker in witnessing the miracle of rebirth!