April 3
See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. Hebrews 3:12
You’ve likely experienced a warning light on your vehicle’s dashboard. Years ago, you would have gotten out the owner’s manual and paged through it until you found the information about why the light is on. More recently, a warning light would prompt an internet search to find the cause of the light. Or, if you’re like me, you ignore the light for a while hoping it will magically go off. That somehow it will just disappear. Maybe it’s just a malfunction and doesn’t mean anything? After a few weeks of the light staying on, you finally make your way to a dealership to ask about the cause of the light, hoping it won’t mean a costly repair bill.
Hebrews 3:12 serves as a “warning light” on our spiritual dashboard. The writer of Hebrews instructs us to “see to it.” This strong command is for us to “watch out,” take heed,” or “be on guard.” While this warning is individual (none of you), we see it is also a plural command (brothers and sisters). This suggests that we are responsible for watching over each other’s spiritual health. We are to see to it that no one in our community has a sinful and unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. We are called to mutual accountability within our community. When we see the “warning light” come up on our spiritual dashboard or on the dashboard of those we love and care for, we need to take action in our own life and also provide support and guidance in the lives of those close to us.
This means we need to be in a constant state of alertness. Drifting away spiritually rarely happens quickly; it’s usually done little by little over time like a slow erosion. The root of this drifting away and spiritual failure is a sinful and unbelieving heart. It is a condition of the heart that refuses to trust God’s character despite His past love and faithfulness. It is the heart that needs transformation. Without transformation, the unbelief creates a hardened heart which makes it unresponsive (dead) to God’s Word and the support, correction, and encouragement of a loving community.
A person with a sinful and unbelieving heart turns away from the living God. This signifies an intentional choice to turn away. Unbelief is never stagnant. There is always movement with unbelief - moving away from the living God, the Source of life. The writer of Hebrews calls God a “living God” reminding us that He is not an inanimate object (i.e. an idol made from wood). God is living. God is active. God is present. Where is my heart? What “warning light(s)” are currently on my spiritual dashboard? Have I examined my own heart? Am I drifting from the living God? Do I know why? If I have turned away from the living God, I am unable to help those who have also turned away find their way back to Him. Only with a penitent heart and a willingness to seek and follow Him will I be able to do what He desires.
Father - Your Word warns me to keep my heart from growing cold and unbelieving. Give me a spirit of alertness to see this. Search my heart and remove anything that may cause my heart to grow cold and to be filled with unbelief. Guard me against turning away from You and following other voices that may tell me You are not enough or that You don’t care. I know You are the living God. The One who is always present and active in my life. Soften my heart so Your Word can take root. Help me to love, support, and encourage others in their walk with You. Thank You for loving us. Thank You for Your Son and his sacrifice on the cross. In Your name we pray. Amen