This is God’s heart desire, that we may be with him. It is an awesome thought that the God of the Universe wants to spend eternity with us. He took the initiative. He paid the price. Then he gave us the choice as to whether we accept the invitation.

Luke records that Jesus wept over Jerusalem (19:41) while Matthew records these words: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem . . . how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing (Matthew 23:37) For me, these are some of the saddest words in the Bible. Jesus longed to be like a mother hen to his people, but he allowed them the option of refusing him, which they did.

What a powerful thing it is that God gives us a choice, even when he knows we will make the wrong choice at times! What an amazing thing it is that God goes to such enormous lengths to redeem us, and then allows us the freedom to reject him. What a beautiful thing it is, that God loves us but won’t force us to respond.

His love is not manipulative or controlling. It is our decision whether or not we receive his love. No one can decide for us and no one can take the choice from us. However, not to respond, results in Jesus' saying, "you were not willing."
Jesus died so we could be with him forever, but the choice is ours.