BEWARE!— SIGNS OF UNBELIEF
BEWARE!— SIGNS OF UNBELIEF
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. —Hebrews 3:12-13
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. —Hebrews 4:12-13
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. —Hebrews 4:16
How do we know if we or anyone else has an evil, unbelieving heart? Well, it will be seen in falling away from the living God. It will be seen by an unwillingness to be held accountable or to be exhorted/encouraged. In the first passage above we are told to “exhort one another every day.” We are to exhort or encourage each other every day so “that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Other than on Sundays when we gather together, when do you meet or communicate with other believers— individually or in a group? If we are not meeting or communicating with others outside of Sunday morning, then how can we exhort/encourage each other? And yes, we can write notes, emails, phone calls, videos etc… but the point is “How are we exhorting/encouraging others in the body of Christ outside of Sunday gathering time?
How do we know if we or anyone else has an evil, unbelieving heart? Faith comes by reading or hearing God’s Word. If someone is not reading or listening to God’s Word outside of Sunday morning, well, that is a real danger. God’s Word “is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” We will give an account to Him of our obedience or disobedience according to His Word. Look what is said in Hebrews 5:11-14—
“We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
It is “by constant use” that people are able to discern between good and evil. The person that is not constantly feeding on the Word of God and applying the Word of God is in danger of deception. James 1:22 says the same thing— “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Disobedience or not applying God’s Word is self-deception. Beware!
How do we know if we or anyone else has an evil, unbelieving heart? We are such needy people and need to “draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Pride or unbelief will keep one from coming before His throne in times of need or at any other time as well. Lack of prayer in a person’s life is a lack of faith. Jesus made this clear when He told the parable of the unjust judge who did not fear God or man and the widow lady that came to him seeking justice. In persistence she got her answer. Jesus said we need to be persistent in prayer… “However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). Will He? Faith is directly connected to our prayer life. Are we trusting and depending on Him or are we trusting and depending on ourselves?
Dear Father, may I be exhorted/encouraged daily and do so daily. May this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. So may it be! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_FGVDVp6b8