An Evil Heart Defined

COME:  Hebrews 3:6b, 12-14; 19:  "... but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end... (12)   Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; ¹³ but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. ¹⁴ For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end... (19)  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.  

HEAR:  Notice the holding fast of confidence and rejoicing of hope FIRM to the end.  This is faith.  Faith is believing God.  But that term, "believing God" is too ambiguous.  Let's dig deeper.  Believing God is believing, having unwavering confidence in what He said.  All we know about God is what He said about Himself in His Word.  All other data about God is subject to error.  

DO:  So, believing God is believing what He said, which is to be found in His Word, the Bible.  This "believing" is the proof that we are in Christ's "house."  Note He also says that it is a confession.  Homo-logeo in Greek.  Homo = same.  Logeo - Word.  The Same Word.  We say the same thing God says.  In other words, my words to not waver or depart the content of God's Words.  

I MUST speak what God speaks.  I must believe what God said.  I must hold this confession FIRM to the end.  

Notice that the definition of an evil heart is defined as UNBELIEF.  Note the effect of unbelief:  "departing from the Living God."  Is it any wonder that Satan's first tactic with Eve was to question what God said?  He's been using that trick for 6000 years.  He doesn't even need another trick because that one is still as effective today on humanity as it was back then!

Then, a sad reality:  "So, we see they could not enter in because of unbelief."  Remember, it's not just about believing there is a God and He's good and all that other ethereal data.  No.  This is about believing what God said and that confession... that fact... produced the price of admission into the Promised Land.  Remember again, this passage is directly tied to the Book of Numbers where millions of Israelites refused to believe what God SAID and they all died in the wilderness (save two).

Refusing to believe what God said (steadfastly, to the end vv.6, 14) will cost us every blessing and ultimately could cause us to be shut out of Heaven itself.  Recall what Jesus said to Jairus when someone told him it was all over and to give up:  "Do NOT be afraid.  ONLY BELIEVE."  Jesus spoke about believing a lot!

Make no mistake:  an evil heart is one that doubts what God said.  As "believers" we are expected to hold fast our confession of faith, steadfast and firm to the end."  What is the end?  The fulfillment of the promises of God... ALL OF THEM.  And guess what the Bible says about the promises of God?  

1 Cor. 1:20:  For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 

Prayer:  Today God, let my words be Your Words.  Let my speech match Yours.  Instead of having an evil heart of unbelief that departs, let an evil heart in me depart!  Create in me a clean heart, O God!  Let it live and breath and rejoice in the firm, sure and abundant promises that You said!  You delight to fulfill Your Word to me.  So today I say, "Yes and Amen" to Your every word.  Let Your words always be steadfast and firm to the end in me!  Amen!