The film Dead Poets Society introduced me to an old phrase from a Latin poem: carpe diem. It means “seize the day,” an urgent call to live life to the fullest, getting the most out of each and every day. Generally speaking, it’s good advice, especially for those of us who to tend to live passively and watch life pass us by.
The writer of the New Testament book of Hebrews also focused on the urgency of “today” (Hebrews 3:7-15). Drawing on that tragic time in Israel’s history when its people fell into decades of unbelief and rebellion in the wilderness, he impressed upon his Christian readers a sense of the urgent when it came to their walk with God. In light of what happened to the Israelites in the Sinai desert, the writer of Hebrews exhorted his readers to be careful not to make the same mistake and to warn each other while it is still “today” (Hebrews 3:13).
Like the Israelites, Christians can let sinful unbelief linger in their hearts. Left unchecked, it will eventually harden them toward God. While it’s still “today,” while there’s still opportunity, that is, Christians can spot unconstrained unbelief in themselves or others and do the right thing. Genuinely concerned Christians can offer others the kindness of their involvement and can present loving, truthful feedback that will sound the alarm about the perils of sin’s deceitfulness.
The writer of Hebrews is not encouraging Christians to meddle. He is, however, encouraging us to first “listen” to what God’s Spirit is telling us about any unbelief lying around in our own hearts (Hebrews 3:7). And he’s calling us to be involved in each other’s lives so that we can caution a fellow Christian whose heart is in danger of becoming hardened towards God.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Exodus 11:1-10; 12:29-36
More:
Read Hebrews 10:24. Note how the author balances his call to warn fellow Christians about the dangers of unbelief with a call to think actively of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
Next:
What unbelief in your heart do you need to present to God? If necessary, how will you lovingly address the sin in a friend’s life this week?
alli on February 9, 2012 at 1:49 pm
so there
alli on February 9, 2012 at 1:52 pm
when you get angry or bitter or decide in your heart God has spoken something that you are unwilling to hear your heart can get very hard. for me there are things i feel like are unreasonable for God to ask of me or unfair and that s what makes me shut my hears from hearing. dangerous. im so there.
Jeff Olson on February 10, 2012 at 8:13 am
alli, your transparency is refreshing…is there a Christian in your life you can share this with too? If so, can you also share you might need from them? To pray with you, to listen to you, to challenge you in love, to encourage you in some way. Whatever it is, consider taking the risk and asking.
daisymarygoldr on February 9, 2012 at 6:03 pm
Unbelief hardens the heart. There is one such person related to me by marriage. Her heart is so hardened towards her husband. On his part he makes coffee for her in the morning, cooks and cleans, hands her his entire paycheck and does everything else that a man could lovingly do for his wife. In return she constantly nags and subjects him to verbal and emotional abuse. We have all tried with utmost kindness help her see the truth to no avail— she is still the same. My husband is convinced it is not possible even for God to change her heart.
This is exactly how people are when we become calloused towards God in unbelief. A hardened heart is selfish, harbors hatred, bitterness, anger, jealously, malice, discontent, doubt, distrust and every other evil. Such people refuse forgiveness, healing, and have no trust, faith or hope in God. “He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy” (Proverbs 29:1). It almost seems like an impossible condition.
With God all things are possible. If we humbly turn to Him He will give us a new heart and will put a new spirit within us. Ezekiel 36:26 says, “…I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” All that God requires of us is to be faithful to the end, trusting Him just as firmly as when we first believed (Hebrews 3:14). My hope and prayer is that come what may, we will always keep our hearts soft and tender towards our Lord— while it is still “today”.
Jeff Olson on February 10, 2012 at 8:23 am
daisymarygoldr, it was sad to read about your relative…she sounds like the kind of hard person who can really put her spouse through an emotional wringer…hardness of heart is the worse of the worst…nothing good gets in or out…only bad…I’m sure this has been very painful for you and your husband to watch, and I can understand how it seems like an impossible situation, and yet God still is a God of the impossible.
GChoo on February 11, 2012 at 11:00 am
Jeff, thanks for the reminder.
I have been praying for my husband all these years, yet he is still an unbeliever. Sometimes, it does sadden me. However, over the years my idol worshipping parents, mother-in-law and my deceased younger brother have all become christians because we kept praying for them. i truly believe God has His own time for my husband.
Alli, thanks for sharing your problems. I will keep you in prayer.
Daisymarigold, your sharing has always been a great encouragement to me. Thank you for sharing and i will keep your relatives in prayer. It is so reassuring to know that ‘Nothing is impossible’ for our Sovereign God. We just have to keep praying no matter how long. God has His own time for everyone when we pray for them.