Hebrews 3:7-14 warn us about hard hearts.  Israel hardened their hearts against God and were not able to enter the Promised Land.  Their hearts went astray.  And we are warned to take care lest we follow in their steps – lest we have evil, unbelieving hearts that lead us to fall away from God, lest our hearts be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.  For we share in Christ (that is, we are saved) IF we hold our original confidence (faith) firm to the end.  That is, true saving faith endures.

How badly the church today needs the exhortation found in these verses.  Too many (and too often myself included) are too careless in their Christian walk.  Many think they said a prayer, and so they are in no matter what.  But no, we share in Christ only if we continue in the faith.  There is disagreement about those who don’t continue in the faith – did they lose their salvation or were they never truly saved (I favor the latter – see for instance I John 2:19).  Either way, this passage calls us to a vigilance, a seriousness, a careful regard for our hearts that is all too uncommon in the church today.

Beware lest you have an evil unbelieving heart, lest your heart is hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.  I doubt many people claiming to be Christians wake up one morning and say they are going to harden their heart and reject Christ.  A few perhaps, but for most I suspect this hardening is a gradual process often unknown to the person.  A slow drift away from God, his Word, and his people.  A slow movement into sin, toward the idols of this world.  A slow turning of the heart from seeking God to seeking other things.   Over a long time of gradual drift, they walk away from the living God.

And so we must take care.  Beware.  Be on our guard.  As Peter tells us: we must “be sober-minded; be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  Resist him, firm in your faith….” (I Peter 5:8-9).

Are you drifting away from God and into sin?  Take care!  Wake up!  Seek God’s mercy and grace!  Look to him!  Return!  And guard your life lest you fall away from the living God!