When we face trials, persecutions, and accusations, our natural response is to drift away from God, focusing more on the tribulations than the truth. As a result, our hearts become hard. The writer of Hebrews gives us two critical warnings at the beginning of his letter…
- Do not drift away from God!
- Do not harden your hearts!
How Drifting Away Hardens the Heart | The Enemy’s Plan
The enemy is well aware of the progression from drifting away to hardening the heart. He capitalizes on moments we aren’t anchored in Christ, bombarding us with lies and accusations as we drift. If we fail to seek the truth and return to Jesus when we drift, our hearts inevitably harden.
Unknowingly, you become rebellious in the hardening—prideful, bitter, angry, or hurt—and destruction soon follows (see Proverbs 16:18, Proverbs 18:12). This is not a path you want to take. It leads to a cycle of sin, and Romans 6:23 reminds us that the wages of sin is death.
Do Not Harden Your Heart and Repeat Old Patterns!
The writer of Hebrew warns the readers because he doesn’t want them to repeat the patterns of their ancient ancestors and miss out on the promise. They were led out of Egypt, out of bondage, and then grumbled and complained. They forgot what God brought them out of (they weren’t anchored in truth), which led to a hard heart and prevented them from entering the Promised Land.
Warning 1: Do Not Drift Away
Hebrews 2:1 says, “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.”
The Hebrews heard the good news that Jesus died for their sin and rose again. They didn’t reject this fact but didn’t respond to it either. Because of their apathy and lack of response, they were in danger of missing out and drifting away from an opportunity for salvation.
The author uses two nautical terms that, when used together, refer to a ship that isn’t anchored…
- The word heed is translated from the Greek word “prosecho,” which means “to pay attention or cast anchor.”
- The word drift is translated from the Greek word “pararheo,” which means “to tie down so it doesn’t drift.”
So then, how do we respond to this warning? We commit to being anchored to Jesus! The currents of the world will carry us away from God if we are not anchored to the only one who can keep us on a firm foundation.
3 Reasons to Be Anchored to Jesus
- We must be anchored to Jesus because He saves us from sin. He is the only one who can save us. We are saved by no other name. (see Acts 4:12)
- We must be anchored to Jesus because of the certainty of judgment. God judges us based on our response to Jesus. Do not harden your hearts and reject the gospel.
- We must be anchored to Jesus because His death, resurrection, and ascension confirm His supremacy. The Apostles were eyewitnesses to these events and confirmed the reliability and truth of Old Testament prophecies, which the ancient Hebrews knew well.
Warning 2: Do Not Harden Your Hearts
Hebrews 3:7-15 is a warning for the hard-hearted. The writer first states that as “partakers of the heavenly calling,” we belong to Him. And if we belong to Him, there is fruit—evidence of confidence and hope. He encourages us to hold fast and apply Jesus’ supremacy to our lives.
The writer recalls Psalm 95, “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion” (Hebrews 3:8).
The writer makes a clear point about God: When you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts. Do not ignore the prompting to respond to His direction. If you do, you will be led into rebellion.
But why does the writer warn, “Do not harden your hearts”? For the Hebrews of that time, he is recalling the missed opportunities of their forefathers. In other words, he says, “Disbelief in God’s Word led your ancestors into disobedience. Their disobedience led to forgetting and forfeiting God’s promises.”
5 Ways Your Hearts Become Hard
Hardening your heart happens when you…
- Ignore God’s voice.
- Go back to old patterns.
- Operate in unbelief or doubt.
- Become prideful and bitter.
- Don’t walk in the fruits of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23).
All of these are the fruit of a rebellious and hard heart. A rebellious heart has animosity toward God and is also apathetic.
A Word for You
When trials, discomfort, and hurt come, our nature is to return to what was rather than turn to the great I Am. What was keeps us from what is promised! Don’t let life harden your heart. Remember, in Jesus, there is so much more than what we considered the best in our past. Jesus is better!
Scriptures to Pray to Soften a Hard Heart
- Psalm 51:10, 17—“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me… The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise.”
- Psalm 19:14— “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”
- Psalm 73:25-26—“Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
The Good News
Hebrews 3:14 says, “For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.”
The Greek word translated as “confidence” was often used for a “title deed.” As a child of God, you have a title deed to God's promises! You appropriate all of God's promises by faith in and obedience to God.
If you’ve struggled with a hard heart or feel like you are drifting away, Jesus is always there. He invites you to respond to His supremacy and sufficiency. Repent and return to Him today. He is better than anything you could ask or imagine! Choose life and choose Jesus.
Want a free resource that walks you through the book of Hebrews and reveals the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ? Get it here!