Let's Break Those Hard Hearts!

When a Christian loses his or her faith, it is a difficult thing to behold as they drift further and further away from the Lord. It is especially so, when it involves a dear friend or beloved relative. Some might question whether the person was ever truly saved. The Calvinist would so attest (believing in "once saved, always saved"). While it is possible that one was never saved, another possibility is actual apostasy (Hebrews 3:12-14).

Apostasy means to fall away from the truth. Therefore, an apostate is someone who has once believed and then rejected the truth of God. Apostasy is a rebellion against God because it is a rebellion against truth. In other words, a believer can become an unbeliever; thereby losing any security afforded the believer. It is very possible that apostasy begins when the heart is hardened by deceit. In order that we might better understand what happens and avoid such a tragedy, let's take a closer look at the deceitfulness of sin.

Sin entrances: There are the "passing pleasures of sin" (Hebrews 11:25). Sin can certainly promise pleasure but such pleasure is only temporary ("passing"). Sin's destructive forces soon follow (social, mental, physical, spiritual) e.g., Proverbs 5:8-14. There is "the deceitfulness of riches" (Matthew 13:22). Riches of this world promise much (pleasure, power, security) but they are uncertain, as evidenced in times of economic collapse (1Timothy 6:17). Love of money leads one away from God, toward destruction and sorrow (1Timothy 6:9-10). So we can see that sin entrances, but deceives with its false promises!

Sin enslaves: Those who commit sin become slaves of sin (John 8:34) like one who becomes addicted to drugs. This can include even those who were once delivered from the bondage of sin (2 Peter 2:19-20). The bondage of sin can be overwhelming (Romans 7:14-25). Without Christ, the will to do good might be present, but the ability is not, and thus we become slaves to sin (Romans 6:16). So we can see that sin enslaves, having deceived us through false promises of freedom!

Once enslaved to sin through the entrancement of sin, the downward spiral of apostasy leads toward unbelief through the hardening of sin.

Sin blinds: Consider those who walk in the futility of their minds (Ephesians 4:17-18). Their understanding is darkened. They are alienated from God because of their ignorance, because of their blindness. The same thing happens to those once saved (2 Peter 2:20-22). They are again entangled and overcome by the pollutions of the world but now it is worse than before. Enslaved to sin, one soon becomes blind to reality!

Sin hardens: Consider again those who walk in the futility of their minds (Ephesians 4:19, 22). They are past feeling; they are given over to lewdness, moral uncleanness, greediness. The man of sin grows corrupt according to deceitful lusts. Here too, we see many times that the same thing happens to those once saved (Hebrews 3:12-14). We can become hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, thereby leading to an evil heart of unbelief in departing from God. This in turn makes it difficult for others to reach out to their hard hearts, as long as they persist in crucifying Christ repeatedly (Hebrews 6:4-6) and persist in sinning willfully (Hebrews 10:26-31). The result being here is that the hardening of sin can lead to a terrifying end!

In conclusion, for the alien, or estranged sinner who is hardened by deceit there is still hope: the gospel of Christ! The gospel contains the power of God to save (Romans 1:16) by breaking through the bondage of sin (Romans 7:25; 8:1-2, 12-13). For the confused Christian who is hardened by deceit there is still hope: the chastening, or restraining of the Lord! This is He who chastens that we not be condemned with the world (1Corinthians 11:30-32) because God loves His children (Hebrews 12:5-11).

At times it may seem impossible to break through the hard hearts of loved ones that have been deceived by sin. But let us not underestimate the power of the gospel of Christ and the love of God to break those hard hearts! Let us stand ready to assist those who positively respond to God's grace.

Let’s pray:

God of all ages, who from generation to generation has heard the cries of your children humbly seeking forgiveness, and has welcomed sinners back into your embrace, hear the thoughts of our hearts, examine our motives, and forgive us our faults. We ask this through your Son who died and rose that we might know the true cost of forgiveness. Amen

God bless you,

Roxanne