The reason is not age itself but the accumulation of refusals: every "no" to God's conviction makes the next "yes" harder.
Les Feldick shows that people who hear the gospel, are convicted by the Holy Spirit, and then reject it are immediately blinded to the truth (Clip2). He also singles out those who say "I'll do it later" as the ones who are condemned (Clip7). Over a lifetime, this habit of postponement and refusal builds resistance, so accepting the gospel becomes harder.
Matthew 7:13-14 — Jesus states that only a few find the way to life, which explains why rejection has always been the majority response.
Romans 9:20 — Paul's question to the potter shows that man cannot argue with God, and Les uses this as the backdrop for Pharaoh's free choice.
The Bible does not explicitly say that age makes faith harder, but it consistently describes human rejection of God's truth. Jesus said, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). Paul also reminds those who question God's work that man is not in a position to reply against God: "Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?" (Romans 9:20).
Les Feldick explains the mechanism that can make the gospel harder to accept the longer a person waits. He points out that a person can hear the gospel, be convicted by the Holy Spirit that it is true, and still reject it—and that rejection brings immediate blinding to the truth (Clip2). He is also clear that those who say "I'll do it later" are among the condemned, since postponement is a form of refusal (Clip7). While these statements are made in a tribulation context, they describe how a lifetime of saying "no" leaves a person more resistant.
Les shows that hardening is the result of hearing, being convicted, and refusing. In Clip2 he says that those who reject after conviction will be "immediately blinded to the truth." In Clip7 he singles out those who hear, plainly understand, are convicted, but say "no thanks—I'll do it later." While these statements refer to a tribulation context, they reveal the principle that rejection of light produces blindness. Being steeped in legalism for years can have the same effect—it makes grace hard to accept (Clip4).
No. Les marvels that people reject it, because the gospel is not like crossing a raging river or climbing a sheer cliff. He says God has made salvation so easy that people cannot believe it is free. A young man in his class told him, "I can't believe that." The obstacle is not difficulty; it is unwillingness to believe that it can be that simple.
Les comments that those who hear the gospel, plainly understand it, are convicted by it, and then say "I'll do it later" are the ones who are completely condemned. Postponement is not neutral; it is a decision of refusal. Every "later" is another "no" to the Holy Spirit's conviction.
Yes, the same teaching that shows the danger of rejection also shows that many people have never truly heard the gospel. Les says there are multitudes—even church people—who have never heard it, and they remain candidates for later hearing (Clip2, Clip7). He also tells listeners not to be in a hurry; the Holy Spirit may need a year or more to prepare a person, as it did with some who came to his class (Clip3). So the difficulty is in accumulated rejection, not in age itself.
Pharaoh's Freedom to Refuse
Les uses Pharaoh to show that God gives every person the freedom to say yes or no, and Pharaoh's refusal was a genuine exercise of that freedom.
Can't Believe It's Free
Les recalls people who hear the gospel but say, "I can't believe that," showing that unbelief can block acceptance.
Rejection Brings Blinding
Les says that those who hear and understand the gospel, feel convicted, and still reject it will be immediately blinded to the truth.
The Holy Spirit's Preparation
Les doesn't push people to be saved quickly; he lets the Holy Spirit work, and he has seen people wait a year or more before they are ready.
Legalistic Background Resists Grace
Les compares Peter's struggle to people today who have been steeped in legalism; they fight "tooth and nail" against stepping into grace.
The Broad Way Is Crowded
Les notes that the broad way attracts the many and the narrow way is found by few, so rejection has always been the majority choice.
The Gospel Is Easy
Les marvels that people reject salvation since it requires no great feat; God has made it so easy that people can't believe it.
Saying "I'll Do It Later"
Les teaches that those who hear, understand, are convicted, and then say "no thanks—I'll do it later" are the ones who will be completely condemned.
Matthew 7:13-14: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Les cites this teaching of Jesus to show that the majority has always rejected the way to life.
Romans 9:20: Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Les uses this question in the context of God's sovereignty and human freedom, reminding the objector that man is the clay, not the potter.
In these transcripts, Les doesn't make age itself the issue. He emphasizes the Holy Spirit's work of preparation and notes that some people in his classes took a year or two before they were ready to believe. The danger is not age but a settled habit of rejection.
Pharaoh had the freedom to let the Jews go; God did not force him. Les uses this to show that refusing to obey God is a real human choice, and the result of such refusals is a growing resistance to the truth.
In Clip2, Les says that when people have heard the gospel, have been convicted by the Holy Spirit that they need it, and then reject it, they will be blinded to the truth. Blinding follows rejection, not age.
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