"Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble."
Proverbs 28:14 (NIV)
If we think somehow that the parable of the soil teaches that God is the One who decides who will listen to His Word and who won’t listen, we will have missed a whole body of Scripture. Much is made of the many verses that teach that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, (Ex 4:21, 7:3; etc, Josh 11:20) yet the verses that teach that Pharaoh hardened his own heart are ignored (Ex 8:15,32; 9:34; 1 Sam 6:6).
Pharaoh and his people were a pagan people, who worshipped false gods, and who lived their entire lives in bondage to demons. Yet when they were confronted with God’s Word, and God’s power, they were able to make a decision not to listen, not to tremble nor yield - however limited their freedom to make decisions was. On the other hand, God’s people, those who worship Him, who have been born again and have the Holy Spirit present within them, who have been set free and can now make true choices - how much more capable are we to either harden our hearts, or break our hearts down at the sound of God’s Word?
What is being discussed in Hebrews 3 & 4 is the responsibility of God’s people to care for the soil of their heart. We are to learn from those who made the mistake of hardening their hearts. We are to learn from their bad example and work hard at keeping our heart tender and open so that God’s Word can penetrate, gain root and produce fruit. We have the responsibility. We have a saying: “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink” – well - you can read the Word to a person, give them Bibles, watch gifted preachers and singers, listen to sermon after sermon by Holy Spirit anointed people, and yet if you refuse to listen, if you refuse to apply, to tremble before God’s Word and you harden your heart and the Word will not bear fruit.
The warning is there for all of us: take heed lest you fall. Do you tremble at the Word of God? Do you open your heart - that place where facts, emotions and will meet together and accept God’s Word into your inner being? Will you make His Word the primary influence in your life? Oh Friend may it be so - for BLESSED is the one who always trembles before God!
No comments:
Post a Comment