Hardened Hearts

At one time or another, we wondered “Why is it that the wicked prospers?” I was reading 1 Samuel concerning Prophet Eli. He was a priest by descendent and so were his sons. But the priesthood lineage for Eli ended with Eli because of God’s divine intervention and judgment upon Eli’s wicked sons.

Year in and year out Eli’s sons acted wickedly before the eyes of the Lord. The nation of Israel knew of their wickedness but there was nothing anyone could do about it for Eli was God’s prophet and only God alone can deal with him. I am sure the Israelites were wondering too when (IF at all) God is ever going to act upon Eli and his sons. God did, but only in His own time. So year in and year out, the wickedness of Eli’s sons continued unabated.

The sins of Eli’s sons were basically corruption and immorality and bullying. They felt no remorse and they couldn’t SEE their own sins. Hmmm … that got me thinking. Why is it that we don’t see our own sins? Those who do and repent, God bless their souls. But there are those like Eli’s sons who could not SEE (let alone understand) their faults even though they had been told and reprimanded by their own father. How come? How come Pharaoh of Egypt couldn’t SEE that there is no way he could contend with the God of Israel? And why too did king Saul not see that God had turned against him? Hardened hearts! That’s why. Their hearts were hardened.

Just as God hardened the heart of Pharaoh of Egypt; just as God hardened the hearts of the Pharisees, are there too many among us whose hearts are hardened that they could not see their own sins and wickedness? Like Eli’s sons, people have cautioned, have shown their concern, yet like Eli’s sons, they showed no remorse nor fear of God and would not let up on their own wickedness.

As I was pondering on these things, it occurred to me that when hearts are hardened, blindness follows. Not literally of course but the inability to see right from wrong, justice from injustice, etc deludes them. People with hardened hearts are self righteous and aggressive. They have lost the ability to discern and they live in a lie. But what’s more scary, as I read the Bible, is that when God hardens a heart, it’s because God had planned judgement.

It was years later after a man of God visited Eli before the judgement of God came upon the household of Eli. Years later. While the people were wondering “why does the wicked prosper” Eli’s sons were blinded to their own actions because of their harden hearts and continued with their wickedness. Years may seem like a long time for the wicked to “prosper” but eventually, God will act. Nothing escapes the eyes of God.

Let’s keep our hearts tender at all times before God. Allow the fruits of the Holy Spirit to bloom in you. Have the attitude of Jesus Christ. We are living in days where God said even the righteous of God will act wickedly. Jesus is coming soon. Keep our hearts right before God at all times.

God bless.