How
blessed is the man who fears always,
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
Proverbs 28:14 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
This proverb
contrasts two kinds of people: the man who fears and the man who has a hard
heart, the man who is blessed and the one who falls into calamity. This fear
refers to a reverent awe of God, and it must be continual. The hard heart
refers to those who are unrepentant, who test or question God as the
Israelites did during the exodus. This hardness of heart is not a lack of
emotion, but rebellion against God, stubbornly refusing to turn from sin and
listen to God as Pharaoh did during the plagues. We have a choice; we can
submit to God, surrendering ourselves to His Lordship and leadership, or we can
go our own way and refuse to obey Him. The first choice results in blessing but
requires humility, the second choice allows pride and self to rule but results
in disaster. The second choice doesn’t always look like blatant rebellion
either. It can be subtle, simply choosing to not obey. Rebellion against God
requires nothing more than doing things our way instead of His. We don’t have
to fight Christianity to gain that title. We can be “good” Christians who go to
church and bible study regularly and yet do what we know the Bible says we
shouldn’t. It is proof of a lack of fear. If we truly revered God, we would do
everything He said without hesitation. That is the basis of reverence, respecting,
admiring, venerating to the point that He is the highest of all. If we do that,
then we will naturally obey not only out of respect but because we believe that
His way is best. Our lack of obedience shows our lack of allegiance, and that
will end in catastrophe. Sin always does. We can choose humility, reverence and
blessing, or pride, rebellion and disaster. Which will you choose?
No comments:
Post a Comment