Applying The Psalms

Thoughts from Psalm 2

Folly in high places

“Why do the nations rage and the people plot in vain?  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”  Psalm 2:1-3

“Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” I’m not sure who first said those words but I do know that when humans are handed the reigns of authority, particularly authority to govern and punish a large group of people, things do seem to tend in the direction of corruption rather than righteousness. In that respect things have changed little from the time of the psalmist to our day and age.

It would do us all well to keep in mind that setting oneself against the stated will of God is the very height of corruption. Thus, when the rulers and lawmakers of our day, many of whom delight in speaking of their “faith” and how God and His will shapes their decisions, institute laws and dictates that are contradictory or opposed to the revealed will of God they are in essence saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”

As an example of what I am speaking of consider the laws concerning the marriage of homosexuals. By the time my children graduate high school, I would not be in the least surprised were the “lawful marriage” of those who have chosen the path of homosexuality accepted in most, if not all, states. Many praise lawmakers who fight for these marriages as forward thinking, open-minded, and even godly. Sadly, godly is one thing they are certainly not for God’s will in the matter is quite clear (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

Our duty to those who rule over us is clear from Scripture (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-15). It is God’s will that His children be in subjection to governing authorities for the principle of government was created and established by God Himself (John 19:10-11). However, when any human ruler, whether it be a single person or a body of people, steps across the line and begins to rage against the revealed will of God, you and I have a duty in that instance as well. It is a duty best explained by Peter in Acts 5:29.  “We must obey God rather than men.”

A Warning To The Wise

“Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.  Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.”  Psalm 2:10-12

When you think of the Christ, what comes to mind? Most followers of Christ think of His love and compassion, His sinless life and example, His great sacrifice for the sins of the world. Why wouldn’t Christians bring these things to mind upon hearing the wonderful name of the Savior? These characteristics provided the foundation for His actions and for our hope. How appropriately the Baptizer spoke of Him in John 1:29 when he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!”

“The Lamb of God.” What a tremendous image as one considers the types and figures of the Passover lamb meeting their fullest meaning in the Person of the Christ! Of course, the “Lamb of God” is certainly not the only designation for the Christ to be found in Scripture. Another designation, found in Revelation 5:5, is “the Lion of the tribe of Judah.” That image depicts the Son as powerful and conquering. It is that image of the Son described for us in Psalm 2.

The Jesus of great might and strength, a powerful conqueror of all those who oppose Him, is frankly a Jesus the vast majority of us are not as comfortable with. While we thrill to speak of His love and compassion, we often find ourselves less inclined to speak of His justice and wrath. Generally speaking this Jesus is not received nearly so well by the masses and can cost a teacher a willing crowd in short order should this Jesus become too demanding and unyielding. “The Lion of the tribe of Judah” isn’t as soft on the ears as is “the Lamb of God.” He is the same Person, however. To accept one is necessarily to accept the other. To reject one is necessarily to reject the other. 

The only escape from the conquering and vengeful Son is refuge in Him. For those who reject Him, vengeance (2 Thessalonians 1:5-9). For those who accept Him, eternal life (Matthew 11:28-30). So, which Son do you intend to meet? 

Applying The Psalms

Thoughts From Psalm 1:1-3

Where do you belong?

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.”

Psalm 1:1-2

Everyone wants to feel as though they are accepted somewhere. One’s life would be sad indeed if they never felt as though they were part of anything, as though they never belonged. Yet the first verse of the first psalm warns us that there is a group we would do very well not to become too comfortable with—habitual sinners. 

Sadly, wicked people are everywhere. We go to school with them, work with them, shop with them, fill our gas tanks with them, eat at restaurants with them, watch them on television, and hear them on the radio. It has been this way almost from the beginning. God is not going to take His people out of the world in which they live (John 17:15). Rather, He asks His people to work hard at leading wickedness to righteousness, leading lost souls to the One who can make them saved souls (Matthew 28:18-20). Yet it is not only righteousness attempting to influence wickedness. The roles have often been reversed to the detriment of those who were once faithful.

Someone said that the progression of Psalm 1:1 is that of thinking, behaving, and belonging. Let me encourage you never to take the first step on the road leading away from God and toward Satan. Let me encourage you never to seek acceptance, to seek belonging, from those whose actions alienate them from God. Simply put, the child of God does not belong with the wicked. Instead, he finds his focus and His delight in the law of God. Not only that, he finds that his mind is too filled with meditations of heaven to allow entry to base, worthless thoughts that can prevent his ultimate goal.

So, where do you belong? Jesus answers, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30). What a wonderful answer it is!

Planted and fruitful

“He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.  In all that he does he prospers.”

Psalm 1:3

My grandfather had several small ponds on his farm. I recall one in particular that never went dry in all of the years he owned that property. That pond weathered several droughts without any difficulty. I remember more than once looking out over those dusty fields, my grandfather praying desperately for rain, and our eyes constantly being drawn to that small circle of bright green in the back left corner of his field. It was like an oasis in the desert. While everything else withered away, the plants and trees on the banks of that small pond flourished because their water source, their source of life, never went dry.

A Christian can enjoy a life every bit as abundant and vigorous, yet they too must remain at the side of their life source. We face days when the heat of trials and difficulties hammer down upon us. We face days when we begin to wilt under strain and stress much like a plant under harsh conditions. I think of Paul’s words from 2 Corinthians 4:8-9.  “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”

Paul never despaired because he was never forsaken. His feet, mind, and soul were planted firmly at the side of his Savior. Because of that he was able to receive exactly what he needed to survive, even thrive, under whatever condition he happened to be facing.

Nothing is different for the faithful child of God today. We do not find our source or life or guidance in the opinions of men. Neither are we forced to rely upon our own devices as we traverse a treacherous and often perilous spiritual landscape. Rather, the One who died for us is also blessing us (Ephesians 1:3). Those who cling to Him and find their delight in His Word (Psalm 1:2) find themselves planted on the banks of a stream overflowing with pure, refreshing water. They find that regardless of the situation, they possess the precise spiritual fruit they need to overcome. It’s all due to their faithfulness to the One who is always faithful. So, where are you planted? 

Hannah, A Woman Without Bitterness

     By today’s standards, and in keeping with attitudes that prevail today, Hannah had ample reason to be bitter. She was barren, a condition, through no fault of her own, that not only demeaned her in the eyes of her peers, but also devalued her in her own sight. Having children was, perhaps, the ultimate goal of women in ancient Israel. Children brought a sense of fulfillment and completeness to the mother, and honor to the father.  Most family and friends of the barren wife, no doubt, felt deep sympathy for her.

     But Hannah found little sympathy at home. Her husband, Elkanah, had a second wife, Peninnah, who had sons and daughters. Peninnah, according to 1 Samuel 1, had no sympathy for Hannah. The Bible says that she would provoke Hannah grievously just to irritate her, timing those occasions whenever Hannah would go up to the house of the Lord. And this went on repeatedly, year after year.

     Nor did Hannah find much understanding from her husband. Annually he gave portions to both of his wives. Peninnah, of course, received considerably more because of her sons and daughters. Elkanah gave Hannah a double portion because he loved her, but this in no way made Hannah feel fulfilled as a wife and mother. And so, she wept and would not eat. Her life must have been miserable. “And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, ‘Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?’” (1 Sam 1:8) Elkanah, no doubt, tried his best, but he simply did not understand the depth of Hannah’s hurt and thus could not help.

     Finally, she turned to the Lord.  ^“She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.” (1 Sam 1:10). But her bitterness was not the kind that would be directed against those who provoked her and made her life so unhappy. The King James Version shows us that the bitterness she experienced was her own inner pain and misery. “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.”  “And she vowed a vow and said, ‘O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.’” (1 Sam 1:11) Following her encounter with Eli, the priest, “she went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.” (1 Sam 1:18)

     Subsequently, Hannah bore a son and followed through with her promise to give him back to God. After Samuel was weaned, Hannah delivered him to Eli and Samuel became a remarkable man of God. But Hannah is equally remarkable in that she did not allow bitterness to define how she interacted with those around her.

     Throughout all of the time Peninnah was provoking her Hannah did not become bitter. She did not retaliate or seek revenge. When she became pregnant, she did not put Peninnah in her place. She did not invoke the proverb that states, “He who laughs last, laughs best.” It would have been so easy for her to have kept a tally of Peninnah provocations, storing them up, dwelling upon them, scheming how she might punish the one who was making her life so unhappy, but she did not. She might have tried to undermine the relationship between Elkanah and Peninnah, but she did not. She might have picked on Elkanah, blaming him for the lack of children, or berating him for any attention he gave to his other wife, but she did not. She might have gone back on her promise to God. After all, her desire for children had been the ruling thought in her mind for quite a long time. She might have decided to keep the child, but she did not. Hannah was a remarkable Godly woman without bitterness.

     Ephesians 4:31 “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.”  Hebrews 12:15 says, “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.”                   

Priscilla: A Woman of Uncommon Fitness for the Kingdom

     It’s not hard to tell when something is a good fit. An ill-fitting jacket binds, restricts, is uncomfortable to wear, and detracts from one’s appearance. On the other hand, a jacket that is a good fit enhances everything about the person wearing it. Fitness, truly, is an asset that is advantageous in every aspect of our lives. Spiritual fitness is the most advantageous of all. And so we sing: “More fit for the kingdom, more useful I’d be, more blessed and holy, more Savior, like Thee.”

     Priscilla was a woman who was uncommonly fit for the kingdom of God. Let’s explore what made her such a good fit. Paul first met Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth on his second missionary journey. They had arrived in Corinth not much before Paul having been forced to leave Rome by order of Emperor Claudius. They had somewhat in common with Paul, being tentmakers like him, and so Paul resided with them during his sojourn in Corinth. This bit of information sounds rather commonplace until one examines the situation more critically.

     The circumstances that prevailed when the Jews were ordered out of Rome could not have been pleasant for them. It is doubtful they were able to leave with more than a few meager possessions. Yet, shortly after arriving in Corinth, Priscilla had already established a home by the time Paul arrived. We read of no whining on her part, no berating of her circumstances, no accusing her husband of not doing anything to prevent the loss of their previous home. She had just the right kind of attitude that made her fit for the kingdom.

     Furthermore, meeting Paul’s need for a place to stay was no imposition to her and her husband. If there was ever a time to gracefully bow out of showing hospitality that was the time. There seems to have been an almost instant rapport between those three first century Christians, a connection that went far beyond the mere fact that they shared an occupation. The stronger bond was their faith in the Savior.

     The Bible is not specific about how long Paul stayed in Corinth, but when he left Aquila and Priscilla went with him as he began to travel back to Antioch. Passing through Ephesus he left Aquila and Priscilla there in that city. It was here that they encountered Apollos. Apollos must have been a man among men. He is described as eloquent, competent in the scriptures, instructed in the way of the Lord, and fervent in spirit. He was a bold speaker who was accurate in his teaching. Yet, when Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they detected some deficiency in his understanding, and so they explained the way of God to him more accurately. They had a unique blend of boldness and tact so that Apollos left their presence having grown spiritually.

     Again, we are not able to determine how frequently Paul and this couple were together, but we can know that Paul had an extremely high regard for them. In Romans 16:3 he calls them his coworkers in Christ Jesus; in 1 Corinthians 16:19 he informs the church at Corinth that Aquila and Priscilla greet them warmly, and we learn that there is a church meeting at their home, and in 1 Timothy 4:19 he urges the young evangelist to greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. The most informative statement Paul made regarding Priscilla and her husband is found in Romans 16:4. It informs us that Priscilla and her husband were uncommonly fit for the kingdom. Paul wrote, “they risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.”

         Jesus said, in Luke 9:62, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Priscilla never looked back, not to the home she left in Rome, not to the home she left in Corinth when she moved on to Ephesus, not to whatever worldly goods and benefits were hers when she and Aquila risked their lives for Paul. From Jesus’ point of view, she was a good fit. Are we?  

Tabitha: A Woman Who Did Not Brag, Boast, or Vaunt Herself

     Were you to pay a visit to Tabitha’s house you would have little trouble locating her. Other than the normal activities of daily living, such as eating, sleeping, and household chores, you would probably find her doing one of two things. Either she was dwelling upon spiritual matters, for she is called a disciple, or her hands and fingers were moving at industry-like speed cutting fabric and sewing the pieces together to make the tunics and other garments that so impressed those who mourned her death. Tabitha was, indeed, full of good works and acts of charity. (Acts 9:36) And so, there she would be in her usual place of study and prayer or her usual place of industry. There you would find her were you to visit.

     But how would you have known her if you were not a friend or family member? The answer seems obvious: you would have heard about her by word of mouth. Perhaps you had received one of the tunics she had made; perhaps an acquaintance of yours had been given one of the garments her busy hands had fashioned; perhaps you simply overheard others proclaiming her goodness as you walked through the streets of Joppa. There are any number of ways Tabitha could have become known to you, but one means would not be on that list. You may have heard about her by word of mouth, but not by word of her own mouth.

     Tabitha was much too busy doing good works and being charitable. She had no time to be out in public bragging about her work and vaunting herself. You would not observe her strolling along with a companion or two, then suddenly halting her conversation to proclaim, “Look, there goes one of my tunics now. I spent a lot of time on that one and I hope it will be well taken care of.” You would not see Tabitha turning to her companions with an air or expectancy that they respond with praise for her workmanship. Where you would find her is at home in her workshop busily preparing the next garment.

     Peter could already have heard about Tabitha. It is difficult to determine from the account in Acts 9 how well acquainted he was with her and her good works. However, whether or not he knew her before he was asked to come to Joppa is not all that important. He certainly knew her reputation once he arrived at her house. Upon his arrival what did he find? The Bible says nothing about him passing a showcase of trophies or a wall covered with certificates. What he found was a group of widows in mourning who obviously loved Tabitha deeply. They were the ones who proclaimed Tabitha’s goodness and charity.

     There is a lesson for us in Tabitha’s example as we reflect upon the following scriptures:

     Matthew 6:1-4  “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of           them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”

     Jeremiah 9:23  “Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,” [applying the principle contained in this verse, we understand that one ought not to boast in his good deeds.]

     Matthew 5:15-17  “Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

     Let our deeds of goodness be extolled through the mouths of others, not through our own. We can be just like Tabitha even though we can only visit her through the scriptures. 

Excusing Sin

     It seems to me that people seek to dodge responsibility for their sinful behavior more every day by making excuses for it. Not long ago I heard one of the foremost television personalities on behavior excuse the sinful actions of a young adult by outlining a laundry list of people he concluded were responsible for his personal choices. He listed parents, grandparents, teachers, friends, and church members, indicating that it was his learned opinion that their failures all contributed to the actions of the young man under scrutiny. However, he never once mentioned the personal responsibility of that young man himself. I came away half convinced that he thought the young man was simply a robot with no will to choose but only an operating system preprogrammed to take certain actions.

     Of course, there is no question that a person is influenced by a great many factors. Sinful parents or other family members, ungodly friends, immoral teachers, and hypocritical church members can all negatively influence a person, young or old. Things seen in movies, television shows, on the web, in books and magazines, and heard on the radio all have an influencing agent to them. Yet as true as all this is the apostle Paul said through the Holy Spirit, “So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:9-10). It is very true that those who tempt others to sin through their own ungodly influences will have to answer for it (Matthew 18:7). Yet when I stand before the judgment seat of Christ it will not be to discuss the influences that surrounded me in my life. Rather, I will be asked about my actions alone.

     This tends to make modern men, particularly modern Americans, very uncomfortable. It not only hints at personal responsibility, it demands it. However, I also find that it often makes members of the church just as uncomfortable. Excuses sometimes come out in an effort to dodge or lessen the guilt of sins. Let’s consider a couple of them.

     “Everyone else around me was doing it.  It’s not like I was the only one.”  Consider the prophet Elijah. “So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets at Mount Carmel. And Elijah came near to all the people and said, ‘How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.’ And the people did not answer him a word.  Then Elijah said to the people, ‘I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men.’” (1 Kings 18:20-22). God did not have much support on Mount Carmel that day. Only Elijah stood against the prophets of Baal, outnumbered 450-1, receiving no encouragement from an indecisive nation, and in the presence of a very hostile king. I suppose if a person were ever in an “excusable” position to switch from God’s team to another it would have been Elijah. After all, everyone else was doing it. It’s not like he would have been the only one, right? So what? The prophets of Baal were sinning, the nation was sinning, and Ahab was sinning. Joining that team would have made Elijah a sinner regardless of how many were doing it.

     “I’m only human, after all.” We all are, aren’t we? I often wonder what this statement is supposed to mean? Does it mean that, as a human, I have faced moments of temptation and been overcome by them? If so every person who has ever lived (save Christ) would have to agree with it, including the inspired apostles (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). Does it mean that because I am a human I have no choice but to sin and should be excused on the basis of my humanity? Now we have a problem. In the above reference John reminds us that we have all sinned at some point. Yet chapter 2 begins with the statement, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.” In 3:4 he says, “No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.” John knew as well as we do that our own weaknesses cause us to stumble from time to time. He also knew that the God who made us made it possible for us to choose not to sin. If the fact of my humanity is sufficient to excuse my sin than consider the charge I lay at the feet of the One who made me this way!

     Truly there is no excusing personal sin. So let’s not try. Rather let us have the faith, courage, and humility to repent of sin in our life for in that direction forgiveness and salvation is found. 

Observations From A False Alarm

This article was posted in our bulletin back in 2011 about a month before the birth of Hannah. May you find the spiritual lessons contained within uplifting and beneficial.

          Thursday night Jackie was admitted to Central Baptist for a few hours as she experienced false labor. As I sat there in a chair next to her bed several things were going through my head. Even as my mind was racing I was able to recognize a spiritual application to most of the coherent thoughts (many were not very coherent at all!).  Perhaps you may find them beneficial.

     A consistent thought was that Hannah was not supposed to be here yet. Jackie and I are supposed to have another month to prepare. We’re supposed to have another month to hammer into the mind of the boys that a new addition is on the way who is not to be tackled, kicked, punched, pushed, or any of the other “physical” activities that little boys find so entertaining (now, in April 2014, that little girl gives just as good as she gets!).  We’re supposed to have another month of peaceful sleep before nightly feedings and changing’s come. We’re supposed to have a November baby, not another October one. We’re supposed to have more time! 

     James dealt with those who thought they had all the time in the world in James 4:13-15.  “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and make a profit’—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring.  What is your life?  For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.  Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will do this or that.’” James is specifically discussing the brevity of life yet the tenuousness of our plans is clearly found here as well. The plan is that Hannah will not join us apart from the womb until November. That’s what’s supposed to happen. Yet even the best laid plans are subject to a Source much higher than us. Truly the Lord’s will is the one that counts.

     Another thought that raced through my mind was that another soul was about to enter my care. What a weighty thought! Paul spoke to fathers in Ephesians 6:4 and said, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Hannah’s tiny soul will be (IS!) worth more than all the riches of this world combined (Matthew 16:26). As her father I have a God-given responsibility to do all that I can to bring her up in the discipline of the Lord and through my example and instruction help instill in her a heart of reverence and love for God. I tremble considering that task! What a responsibility we fathers have and I pray that each of us always takes it as seriously as we should.

     As if it were playing on a loop, “Everything is about to change again,” kept rolling through my mind. Less than six years ago I was unmarried and living in my hometown of Cincinnati. In that time I have married, moved to a different city, begun working with a different group of brethren, became a new homeowner, and am about to have my third child. For the past six years my life has been one of almost constant change. Significant changes have also taken place among my family members in that time. Who among us has not experienced at least some change in the past six years? 

     Having said all of this, there is one part of my life that hasn’t changed. The One controlling it has not and will not change. He said it Himself in Malachi 3:6.  “For I the Lord do not change…”. We’re reminded in James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coning down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” Do you not find that immensely comforting? “Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me!” 
       A great deal goes through a parents mind when a little one is on the way. This is especially true when the little one comes, or appears to be coming, a bit sooner than expected. As always, regardless of the circumstance, spiritual lessons abound. I hope that you found the ones that went through my mind helpful!       

Concluding Thoughts on The Parable Of The Sower

      In our consideration of the Parable of the Sower from Matthew 13 we have considered the along-the-path soil, the rocky-ground soil, the among-the-thorns soil, and the good soil. In order, these soils represent the unbelieving heart, the shallow heart, the crowded heart, and the faithful heart. However, no discussion of this magnificent parable can conclude without considering this very important point—hearts can change.

This is a wonderful and comforting thought as we consider the first three hearts described by Jesus. Even the most militant unbeliever may finally be won to Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 1:12-14). The shallow heart that tucked tail at the first taste of persecution may someday approach the Word more carefully, digging deep and developing saving faith. The crowded heart may eventually come to recognize the brevity of life and the futility of filling it with temporal, worldly pursuits. The lost need not remain lost for our God is ready, willing, and able to receive everyone who will come to Him on His terms (2 Peter 3:9; Romans 2:4). Foolish man often confuses God’s restraint in judging evil as evidence that He does not exist (Ecclesiastes 8:10; Psalm 10:4, 11), rather than recognizing it as the extraordinary patience and mercy it really is.

If the heart that has yet to stand renewed before God finds comfort in the knowledge that hearts can change, the faithful heart finds the thought sobering. That a faithful saint may choose to become unfaithful and fall away from the living God is beyond dispute if one will take the Scriptures at their word (Hebrews 3:12 uses that very language. Consider also 2:1; 4:11; 6:4-6; 10:26-31, 39). Rather than uselessly arguing whether such a one was ever saved in the first place we would do much better to examine our own lives in light of such passages as those listed above and ask if anything besides our words alone prove our claims to faith and trust?

It is difficult for Satan to get a saint who has been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, shared the Holy Spirit, and tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, to leave all of that behind to fall back into the world. It is difficult for him to convince them to crucify again the Son of God to their own harm and hold him up for contempt. It is difficult, not impossible. In fact, it is bringing such a one to repentance rather than them falling away in the first place that the Hebrew writer calls impossible (Hebrews 6:4-6).

That hearts can change reminds the saint of the need for constant vigilance and self-awareness. One need only sit still doing nothing for the current to sweep him out over the waterfall. The currents of temptation will just as easily pull the inactive saint over the waterfall of spiritual death. It is for this reason Jesus says that the good heart bears fruit and yields results. That’s what faithful saints do. They bear, they produce, and they act. How can they make any claim to faithfulness otherwise?

Hearts can change. Rejoice in that knowledge if your heart is one that needs changing. Thank God for His patience and mercy, but don’t presume on them. If you need to change, change. If your heart is of the good soil, keep it up! May the God from whom all blessings flow strengthen your resolve to remain faithful to the end!