Very encouraging thought.
People can
think they're Christians yet still not have been converted.
Jesus knew this and made sure His position was on record to encourage us, particularly in cases where someone is part of a congregation believing it has The Truth (as the disciples were) and wants to follow Christ but hasn't actually had the conversion experience. How often do we see someone facing prison or character assassination, even in some cases actual bullets or the well-known compound C₃AsN₃
• = Carbon
• = Nitrogen
• = Arsenic
Luke 22: 31-33 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
Throughout his life this Simon character had followed Jesus, listened to and eaten with Him, quaffed wine and witnessed miracles and was persuaded by everything he saw – but still was unconverted which we know from the very words of Jesus. Satan wanted to have him and let's be honest here, it wasn't Mary hanging around asking Jesus to pray for him was it. No. It was Jesus operating off His own bat. But even if she had made the suggestion and even if Jesus had listened to her, no such mediation would be possible now because Mary is dead.
Satan is still menacing Christians and yearns for those nearing conversion just as badly as he wanted Simon before Simon was converted. Satan wants everyone 'round his place "on the stuff" as they say seeing spots and leprechauns and swilling down the red absinthe and let's face it whatever happens in hotel rooms where evil is running the show which doesn't bear thinking about and Christians never think about that anyway – but there it is. Under those conditions conversion is very unlikely but Christ reaches out making conversion possible, even in a fallen world. Jesus is keeping the best wine till last as He did in Cana all those years ago, the very first miracle of all.
John 2:9-11 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.