Comfort is one of the many things you give up when you take up a life in wild country.”
–Lou Bradshaw (Driftin’)
“And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’”
–Matthew 8:20(NKJV)
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“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness…’. But exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of your be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin… While it is said: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.'”
–Hebrews 3:7-8, 13, 15 (NKJV)
Focus on that word, TODAY. Grasp onto that word until you can get the feeling of its meaning into your heart. Today…today do not harden your hearts. Remember, the Book of Hebrews was written to believers, most notably Jewish believers.
The writer is yelling: Pay attention! He is writing to a people who seemingly want to provoke God. Hard to believe that a Christian would dare to provoke the One who redeemed him, but here is the warning. It was written to the first century church, and it referred back to God’s people hardening their hearts in the wilderness in the time of Moses. Yet, it has a real message for us today.
How far can a person (or nation) push God? Does God really mean He will do what He says (cf. Dt 28)? We have been warned regarding God’s judgments. Why would a believer push God? “This generation does not believe in a God of judgment.” (William R. Newell) They see only the God of grace and mercy, the God of handouts and blessings. It would profit us to heed the warnings God has given to us.
People claim that Christianity isn’t a religion, but a relationship, then why isn’t that fellowship developed? Has the world too bright an allure? The warnings of God have been softened with compromise; a compromise that says we can partake of the world because God is loving and kind and sweet. I won’t say more about the warning here except that the writer is warning believers not to harden their hearts, not to fall away from the Person of Jesus. John warns us about being friends with the world. Paul says we cannot have fellowship with Belial.
Consider Him–today! People say they want a relationship, oh, but I ask, do they long to know His ways? Relationships take time to develop and they take effort. Most are content to remain ignorant of the ways of God. They want the perks, but not the pain. They enjoy the blessings, but shun picking up their cross daily and following Him. I remember a student telling me once that the reason he didn’t read the Bible was so he could remain ignorant. His thought was that knowledge made him responsible. Ignorance is bliss–no, ignorance is dangerous!
Today–the word implies that immediate action is imperative. The voice of God is sounding now; it must not be neglected. Jesus warned of the approaching night. Paul implores us to redeem the time, and to work out your salvation. How? By becoming conscious of a living God who bids us to fellowship now–today. He is a living Person, therefore we truly can have fellowship with Him. However, it is up to us to put the world aside and follow Him. He does not follow us; He will wait for us, but His way is higher and purer than ours so we must place our worldly ideas aside.
Do not be one who “dies” in the wilderness. One who heard the word, but lets the cares of life and deceitfulness of riches harden his heart toward the Lord. Follow Him, intently; follow Him purposely. Become a true disciple–follow Him, consider Hi, have a proper attitude toward Him–now, TODAY.