The Results of Hardness

Glory to God, we're home! There is no bed like your own, no shower like your own, and no place you're more comfortable than home! As I always say, Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz was right, there's no place like home!

The trip home was very long, over 8,000 miles in one day! The Lord was good, and all the flights were on time and uneventful! The on flight food...well, we won't go there!

Today I posted a blog below that I wrote while in Ethiopia on the day we were kept from conducting the evangelistic crusade. The pictures are of the path that we took up the mountain to the crusade; a house along the way; the children assembled at the crusade sight; and lastly the crowd waiting to hear the gospel.

Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:12-13).

While in Ethiopia, we saw first hand what can happen when a precious brother in Christ goes astray. A man who walked with us, prayed with us, loved God with us, is now seeking to prevent God’s purposes from coming to pass. This wonderful brother defied conscience, allowing personal pride, selfishness, and greed to weaken his conscience, eventually becoming hard-hearted and harming the very people he once led. He led authorities to refuse us permission to hold an evangelistic crusade where hundreds were waiting to hear the gospel. He has begun to threaten physically the very people who once mentored him.

In 1 Timothy 1:19-20, Paul mentions Hymenaeus and Alexander who betrayed conscience and forsook God’s best. In Acts 5 we read of Annanias and Sapphira who died because of their sin against the Holy Spirit.

When we see a precious saint of God go astray, we may think that we are immune, and may wonder how this could happen. A wise believer will always remain aware that he could likewise harden his heart.

A conscience repeatedly violated opens a door in your life to the enemy and gradually shuts God out. It happens at a slow pace, and the end of a seared conscience is spiritual ruin.

It’s the little foxes that spoil the vines. Keep your heart. Watch the small things that creep into life and are not dealt with. Expose every thought, attitude and action to the One who knows all and sees all. Keep short accounts with God. Remain in constant communion.

I fear for my brother who allowed himself to get into this state of utter rebellion. I pray for God’s mercy on his life. He, that being often reproved hardens his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy (Proverbs 29:1). It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31).

Let us ever be aware of our human frailty, and our need to remain humble before God. May the Father’s hand remain upon us, as He the Divine potter ever mold us into the likeness of our Savior.