Hebrews 3:12-19

David Kramer reflects on our ability as Christians to have both belief and unbelief in our hearts.

David Kramer

'Take care brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.' Hebrews 3:12-19

Moses was called and commissioned by God to lead Israel out of slavery in Egypt to a land God promised to give them. Moses had a hard time believing he was the man for the job so God gave him a sign:

'And this shall be a sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.' Exodus 3:12

Some sign - after it's happened I'll show you a sign!

At the time of Jesus' birth an angel visited some shepherds to announce to them that the Saviour had been born and gave them a sign. (Luke 2:12 & 16) That's more like it.

In Matthew 9:35 we read that, 'Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.' That's every disease and every affliction; physical, emotional, mental and demonic. Josephus (a Roman historian of the time) estimates that could be a population of around three million!

John says at the end of his gospel, 'Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.' John 21:25. Amazing.

Jesus said, 'Whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do, and greater works will he do.' John 14:12-14. What! Unbelievable! But Jesus said it and He is the way, the TRUTH and the life.

I've prayed for and seen some folk healed both physically and emotionally. I've prayed for and seen some folk not healed. I've witnessed and, in some cases experienced, a few pretty spectacular miracles. I'm alive today because after two battles with cancer, (when others prayed for me), God told me to declare, "I'm cancer free and staying that way." Getting to the point where I could actually do that was a real fight of faith over several months. That was 10 years ago and occasionally I still have to resist allowing the devil to put the frighteners on me. In that time I lost one of my closest friends to cancer.

Does all of the above make me a believer, or an unbeliever?

I have a friend who is struggling to believe one particular (and foundational) aspect of the nature of God. If you knew their story you would fully understand why. However, it prevents them from experiencing some of the most precious and powerful blessings of being a follower of Jesus. Recently I said to them that they had a problem because not accepting the truth doesn't change it and make it untrue. Therefore they are going to continue to be lovingly confronted with this truth because God wants them to live in the reality, joy and freedom of it. Bottom line? Their theology in this particular is based on their life experience and the devils' lies and not on who Father God says He is and has shown Himself to be in His Word, His Son, by His Holy Spirit and also through different folk He has put around this person.

What about you? How's your theology?

Are there areas in your life where, because of disappointment, injustice, hurt, loss, rejection etc., you read or hear biblical truth and shut down or reject what is being declared? Is some of your theology based on your life experiences and the lies of the devil?

Yes? Me too.

So, what can we do about it?

Jesus started His public ministry by saying repent and believe. Repentance is changing our mind, turning around and going in a new direction. It often involves taking the risk of acting on the truth even if we're not convinced.

Moses had to obey God to see the sign! The shepherds had an angel, the glory of the Lord shining around them and suddenly a, 'multitude of the heavenly host'. But, they still had to act and go to Bethlehem and only then see the baby. (Luke 2:15-16).

So why does the writer to the Hebrews address brothers, (believers), and warn us against having an evil (strong word) unbelieving heart? Simple, its consequences are evil. It will lead us to, 'fall away from the living God' (Hebrews 3:12), and prevent us from entering and enjoying all that He promises us. Like Israel in the wilderness, we have been rescued from slavery, but risk missing out on accessing all Jesus won back for us (Hebrews 3:19).

Now for the good news: Our loving heavenly Father will show us our unbelief and evangelise our unbelieving heart so as to draw us to renewed faith. Obedience is the key and as always our response is up to us.