How can a sinner change his mind from using their own work to be reconcilled with God when the sinner did not know God nor was he trying to reconcile with God?
When I made that decision, I reason to myself "If God want to give me a free gift of salvation, I will take it first. Whether he really exist or not is secondary. The most if I am tricked, its a free gift anyway".
This is known as the Pascal's wager.
So was it really that difficult?