Do Not Harden Your Heart
“Take care, brethren, there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living Elohim (God). But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Messiah, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, while it is said, ‘Today if you hear His voice do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me.’ For who provoked Him when they heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? And so we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.” (Hebrews 3:12-19)
“Therefore let us be diligent [make every effort, strive, like Yahshua (Jesus) said, with everything in you to enter that narrow gate] to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. …There is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do [give an account]. …Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need” [to overcome the flesh and our sinful, rebellious, lustful cravings, and desires]” (Hebrews 4:11,13,16).
What a provision! The word of Yahveh (the LORD) is alive and it is sharp, actively working to circumcise our hearts to show us what lies in our hearts. Do not be deceived. Whatever we do with our lives, if it is according to the flesh and our own self-justified reasoning, we will reap destruction. But if we sow according to the Spirit of Yahshua (Jesus) in us, we will reap righteousness for His honor and glory and eternal life. Yahveh is good. His mercy endures forever.
“Today,” if you hear His voice. Did you hear His voice, or was your heart so hardened that you couldn’t hear it? Is there some attitude, some hankering that has stuffed your ears and hardened your heart and stiffened your neck so you can’t hear what His Spirit is trying to convey with all His passion and love for you? Do not take lightly such a great salvation and therefore not enter in because of disobedience.
Yahveh our God is striving with us in order that we might strive with all our being to not only enter that narrow gate, but that we might stay and not drift away, swerving to the right or left of that narrow path that leads to eternal life.
