I mean...they had to go out daily...with an axe or pick or sledge hammer and break up the re-forming ice that quickly developed during those cold nights. The more diligent they were at doing this, the less ‘work’ was involved given the ice would not thicken as fast had they only came every few days to break it up. But it literally became a life or death issue if they wanted to keep their cattle alive.
I’ve often thought about that picture and the importance of what those ranchers did and the consequences if they failed to do so.
And that all reminds me of what Hosea spoke to a back-slidden nation exhorting them to ‘break up your fallow ground, for it is time so seek the Lord till He comes and rains righteousness on you.”. (10:12) I don’t think anyone has to be a theologian to make the connection that we are talking about our hearts here. Our hearts...that scripture continuously reminds us can hardened. It always goes back...to our hearts. (obviously we are not talking about our ‘blood pumper’ either, rather that inner man...the ‘real’ us.)
If you go back to the beginning of this chapter in Hosea, we read what the root of that ‘fallow ground’ and backsliding was...they had a divided heart and they had ‘no king, because they did not fear the Lord’. (2-3). And we only need look to the book of Judges to see the tendency that arises when there is ‘no king’...everyone does what is right in their own eyes’. (17:6). Now, fast-forward to the book of James...and the bulk of his letter speaks to the carnality of many believers at that time pointing to the serious problem of ‘conflicting fruit’ that was manifesting in them. “Blessing God with their mouths and then turning around and cursing men...who have been made in the likeness of God’... adding...Brethren...these things ought not to be so.” (3:9-10)
James then continues on...”Submit to God...resist the devil and he will flee from you. ...draw near to God...and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded”. (4:7-8). (No doubt there would be much we could unpack from that passage alone here.)
I am aware that the subject of ‘sin’ is never one that people get excited to hear about or study. I get it. But we should be reminded regularly that sin has a similar effect on our hearts in the same way those cold winter temps have on fresh water....it hardens them. And it can quickly become a ‘spiritual’ life or death situation for us as believers. Allow me to explain how...
We are warned in the book of Hebrews...”Beware brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily...while it is called “Today”, lest any of you be...hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” (3:12-13). Twice...in those same pages, the writer quotes the Psalmist saying...Today, if you will hear His voice, Do Not Harden Your Hearts.” (Heb. 3:7; 4:7; Ps. 95:7-8).
Turning a deaf ear to God’s voice...hardens our hearts. Sin...hardens our hearts.
And why is this such a relevant message for us today? Because for the most part, the majority of those who profess to be believers continue to identify themselves as ‘sinners’. Not- ‘were sinners’ but ‘sinners’ ...or ‘saints who sin’ because after all...’Christians are not perfect, just forgiven’. Have you not made the connection yet as to why that man in Matt. 7:21-23 who was doing all those wonderful things in the name of God was banned from entering in to heaven? Jesus told him plainly...you continue to practice lawlessness ...which is...sin. (1 John 3:4)
Do we have a merciful and forgiving God to run to when we mess up or stumble? Absolutely. But we have allowed our theology to be so twisted ...convincing us that sin is not that big a deal since Jesus forgives all. John did not write in his first letter that ‘when you sin’...rather he wrote ‘IF’ you sin...you have an advocate with the Father to run to.(1 John 2:1). We as a society would not tolerate the ‘wife-beater’ who after every time he harms his wife, then ‘says he is sorry’ but never changes. And if he use to do it every other day but now only does it 2-3 times a month...we agree this is unacceptable.
The thief who continues to appear before a judge in court and repeatedly tells the judge...I’m sorry, Your Honor...I won’t do that anymore’...then goes out and does it over and over...we then respond in rage for such ‘lenient laws and soft judges’ that allow crime to spread and go unpunished.
But for some reason...we think God is different. And how wrong we have been led to believe.
When Jesus was explaining what it would be like at the ‘end of the age’...one of His marking points was ‘Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” Multiple translations use the expression of ‘wax cold’. Think of a candle that is soft and pliable but when the flame flickers out...and the cool air blows in...what gradually happens? (Matt. 24:12)
Also, did you know Paul wrote some 2000 years ago...that the ‘end of the age’ was already here?- (1 Cor. 10:11) That will mess with all those time lines and charts we like to draw up. ;- )
Paul wrote to Timothy in his second letter about these ‘perilous times’ that would come in the ‘last days. He describes the condition of men being ‘lovers of themselves and of money and proud and unholy and unloving and unforgiving and lovers of pleasure more than or rather than lovers of God. And he was not talking about the lost sinners in the world. He was talking about those who claimed to be believers because they ‘had a form of godliness but denying its power. (3:1-5)
I can’t help but to believe these are those same people who are convinced that the power of God is incapable of truly transforming them into the nature and image of Christ where they could actually go and ‘sin no more’. (John 5:14; 1 John 3:6). It is another gospel they succumbed to and it has to be ‘another Jesus’ they profess to believe in. But keep reading there in that passage in Timothy...Paul points out they will ‘always be learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth’. (7). He then goes on to say how ‘evil men and imposters will ‘wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (13). There’s that picture of ‘wax’ growing hard again.
Yes...that is what the subtle slope of sin does to our hearts. We are not ‘ignorant of Satan’s devices as he is the master deceiver and has been doing this for a very long time. And if you think you are wiser or craftier than him, you are more deceived than you imagine. (1 John 5:19; Rev. 12:9)
When Jesus addressed the seven churches there in Rev. 2-3, He had some sobering words to say to the group at Sardis...pointing out that while they had a ‘name or reputation of being alive...He flat out told them they were dead!”. (3:1). Remember...deceived people don’t know they are deceived. Whether we are talking of our religious friend in Matt. 7:21-23, or this church at Sardis...or even those Paul wrote about warning Timothy...the deceitfulness of sin is no respecter of how long you have been a church member.
Did you know that Paul said we would come to a point where “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus WILL SUFFER...persecution1” (2 Tim. 3:12). I’m telling you...Satan does not mind one bit how busy you stay doing religious things. But if you have not dealt with this sinful nature by following the Spirit to put it to death, you have not truly repented. And you shall surely die. ( Gen. 2:17; Rom. 8:13; Luke 13:3,5; Rom. 6:23)
I’d imagine you are familiar with the Proverb that exhorts us: “Above all else...guard your hearts”. (4:23). Above...all else...kind of makes it sound like this is an important thing to do. But now look at Philippians 4:7. Paul tell us that the ‘peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” That...is amazing to me. First of all...you nor I can walk in His peace...if we are not abiding in Him. But if/when we are, we are told that peace is what enables us to guard or protect Both our mind and heart. Can I just tell you ...that the door or passage that Satan comes through to gain access in to your heart...is your mind?
Do you recall Paul writing about this ‘spiritual warfare’ we are involved in and how important it is to ‘bring into captivity EVERY thought to the obedience of Christ’? (2 Cor. 10:3-5) There was certainly a sense of urgency in his writings where we were told that ‘as we see that Day approaching we should be exhorting one another daily lest we be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (Heb. 3:13; 10:25)
I know...some of you, if you got through all this...might be thinking...’this all sounds so involved and complicated and challenging. I don’t have time to be all that serious. I’m just going to believe what my pastor at church told me that since I was baptized and made a profession of faith that I am just fine and will continue to live my life just the way I always have since I joined the church.
I would not ask or encourage anyone...to simply believe what I write here...unless...the Holy Spirit bears witness with your spirit and confirms these things I share to be credible.
More tomorrow.
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