Heb 3:8 – Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness.

There is a terrible danger for the heart of a Christian to become hardened. So prevalent is the possibility of this happening, that it takes a constant vigilance in the pursuit of God, the putting to death the deeds of the flesh, the eradication of idolatry and the joyful regular basking in the presence of God through earnest prayer, supplication, and the meditation on God’s word to prevent it. If we don’t take this earnest warning from Hebrews seriously enough, or think it somehow doesn’t apply to us, then it is almost guaranteed that it will happen to us, and worse, we will be blinded to the fact that it is happening. This is exactly the way the devil would have it, that we would be deceived into thinking that we are ok, when we are not. Therefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall (1 Cor 10:12). The devil would that we would be lulled into a place of complacency and slumber in our relationship with the Lord that would begin to allow the encroachment of idolatry, sins and fleshly indulgences that we had previously put away from us. 

Heb 3:12 – Take heed, brethren, lest there be IN ANY OF YOU an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

This warning is directed squarely at us, each and every one of us. That phrase “take heed” means to “beware”. Don’t buy into any notion that somehow, because we are a “part of the elect” that this can’t actually happen to us, it can, and it will, if we are not careful to “take heed”. Israel in the wilderness was the example of what happens to a people who call themselves by His name, but fail to walk as he has called them to walk, who get complacent in the wilderness and forget the one who loved them, and called them, and set them apart. To those who let their love and zeal for God, the hunger for His close regular companionship diminish and begin to run cold. We have to be on constant guard that this is not happening to us, or it most certainly will, just as it happened to Israel. Because of it, they came up short and never entered the promised land. So I sware in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest (Heb 3:11).

Let me reiterate, this warning is not just for Hebrew believers, but is squarely directed at ALL believers, at all times and without distinction. Each and every one of us is just as susceptible of developing a cold and hardened heart as Israel did in the wilderness.

Heb 3:7-8 – Wherefore AS THE HOLY GHOST SAITH , To day IF ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness.

“As the Holy Ghost saith” So, this is not man speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

Heb 4:1-2 – Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of YOU should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard.

Not only should we be aware that this can happen to us, we are called to actually FEAR it. A healthy fear that puts sufficient safeguards in place and consistent “monitoring” of ourselves against it. Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! (2 Cor 13:5). We have to mix faith, OUR faith, with the word preached, or it will not profit us, just as it didn’t profit Israel in the wilderness. God gives us faith as a gift, but it is our job to put it into daily practice, or we will be like the wicked servant who received the talents as a gift, but then just dug a hole and buried it in the ground. Perhaps thinking he was somehow “taking glory” away from the master in thinking he could bring increase or add anything to the gift given. You see how profound was his misunderstanding of his master, and it cost him dearly.

It is a daily fight to keep ourselves in the love of God and not allow our love and zeal for Him run cold, as it says in Jude: But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep *yourselves* in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life (Jud 1:20-21). It’s not His love for us that we need to worry about, it’s our love towards Him that is always in danger of diminishing and running cold. So there is always a need for us to daily keep it alive and stirred up, or it most certainly WILL run cold and our hearts will begin to harden, it is up to us to not let that happen.