Where does an unbeliever have to come before God saves him?
The unbeliever must come to the place of standing still before a Holy God, acknowledging that he can do nothing to save himself. He must stop striving, trying to build a bridge or find a way across, and confess he cannot even move from where he is. Only then does God move in and perform the miracle of salvation.
Les explains that all we can do is stand stark naked before a Holy God and admit, "Lord, there's nothing I can do, I can't even move from where I am." He compares this to Israel at the Red Sea, where God said, "Stand still, don't do anything, don't try to build a bridge, don't try to find something that will float you across, stand still." That is exactly where the unbeliever has to come, and he too can do nothing until God moves in and performs the miracle of salvation. In this verse, God creates within us a whole new mind, will, and emotion, and the personality has to be totally recreated. Old Adam has to die, with all of its things concerning the world, and in his place God, by a miraculous work, gives us that transformed mind.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.