7 So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. 10 That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ 11 So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ” 12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. 15 As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” 16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.
Hebrews 3:7-19 NIV
We were warned. So many examples of times when humanity has hardened their hearts. I participated as well. My heart was so hardened, I could not understand love. I have and continue to work on understanding love. It is the essence of all things Holy. It is the very thing the enemy uses to try to separate us from God.
This plague across the globe is not God’s wrath and judgment – Our God is LOVE and GOOD. These things are the consequences of being ungodly and compromising – it is the result of the hardening of our hearts. It’s (as a bigger picture) exactly what the author of the book of Hebrews is warning against.
The book of Hebrews is all: Hey, guys! You should be super strong Christians, out there healing and casting out demons – but instead you need a refresher in the basics like a fat baby! Pull your acts together because you are heading towards the hardening of your hearts and will fall short of entering His rest. – So here are the basics, again. Sign.
Seriously – this book is no joke!
While social distancing I look on Facebook to interact with others and I see so many share Bible verses of hope and memes of prayers – followed by other memes that make my spirit cringe! I have so many friends who claim to be christian because they were always told they were Christian – but the bible says we can discern the spirits, testing and seeing that just professing it and having never opened a Bible, themselves, does not a Christ follower make. Where is the evidence of an actual relationship with Christ?
“Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.”
Hebrews 4:1-2 NIV
As for those of us who profess we are Christians, read His Word, and prayerfully have a relationship with Him – are we obeying so that we do not lead others astray? We all must find the line in the sand in which we will not cross. We all must set examples so they may “share the faith of those who obey”.
Are we out on social media sharing fear, anger, and promoting the works of the devil? Are we protesting and going out and showing our disobedience (the Bible says to follow the laws of the land and the law says to stay socially distant) – With such protest testing God himself, as you say: God will protect me! (God forbid! He has protected you as the Jews where protected during Passover – INSIDE their houses!)
“Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.”
Hebrews 4:11 NIV
Our jobs as Christians is to be examples.
I post very positive post on social media ones of love, peace and hope – and about what is happening in my life. I have had Christian criticize me for not putting out the gospel and forcing my beliefs on others. And I wonder, how many lives have been changed by that approach? My approach is to share the love of Christ through hope – it works, I have been approachable. I am a sinner saved by grace and by not being in their face, they are able to also forgive my transgressions when I have fallen. I get messages from others needing hope begging me for the secret of my peace, of my hope and of my love. They have asked and then I have the opportunity to not only share – but customize it as God would have for that person’s specific needs. At that point I can share the Word of God without apology as they are the ones who have asked for it. God is good.
12 For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:12-16 NIV
While we are social distancing – we can either:
- Sin in private and no one will know – we can harden our hearts and become lazy in our walk with God – we can compromise – we can fill our time with entertainment streaming into our homes – we can easily spout off on social media forgetting that our standards then enter other people’s home and spread a virus more deadly than the pandemic we are social distancing to avoid. – yes, our compromise, sin and disobedience spread death as others follow our lead (the wages of sin is death – Romans 6:23)
Or
- We can take this time to grow strong in the lord and in the power of his might (Eph 6:10). We can be an example of Christ. We can share the gospel. We can be part of this great revival that is happening. Yes, it is happening! People want and need a REAL God, a Powerful God, and a Life Changing God. We have that God – share Him!
When we get to heaven and have to account for the actions of our life – what will we tell God we did during this time? He says: Dear child, you were created for such a time as this; so what did you do to further my kingdom? Did you permit distractions to keep you from your great project (my post on Saturday)?
Remember I am writing to myself as well as anyone who stumbles upon this. God is still working in me, by grace! Oh how I love that word!
”Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16 NIV
Yes, I wrote that verse 2 times today (and how many times thought these posts?). We need his mercy and grace to get through this time. Learn these lessons and this verse as we will need it all the more as we get further along in these last days. His grace is and will be sufficient.
Grace be with you ~Thank you for reading ~ be healthy and blessed ~ Pray for our nation ~ pray Psalm 91
(Also, I am no longer posting on Sunday – please find a Church online to get the Word of God from and spend it with your family and with God – Love you)
If Not For Grace 