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The Bible is our manual for living as it is God’s inspired truth and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in correctness. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” 2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV). If we are to live life to the fullest as God intended, we need to study and obey God’s written Word, which not only keeps a heart soft and pure but allows us to be “blessed” in whatever we do. “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” James 1:25 (NKJV). Hearts can also become hardened when we suffer setbacks and disappointments in life. No one is immune to trials here on earth. Yet, just as steel is forged by a blacksmith’s hammer, so, too, can our faith be strengthened by the trials we encounter in the valleys of life. As Paul encouraged the Romans. “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” Romans 5:3–5 (NKJV). “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit” Psalm 34:18 (NKJV). God cannot fix what is first not broken and cannot fill us if we are full of ourselves. God says through Jeremiah the Prophet that the heart is devious and malicious above all things, and dreadfully sick; who can comprehend or relate to it “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9 (NKJV). but God can give us a heart of flesh and take out the heart of stone.
A fleshly heart is more flexible and easier to penetrate, which is just what God wants to do, but if you or someone you know starts losing the conviction of the Spirit, grows in discontentment, never afflicts themselves over their sin, never sheds a tear in prayer or for others to be saved, no brokenness, and a lack of humility, it’s time to get on your (and my) knees and repent, ask for forgiveness, and find your satisfaction in Christ. If Jesus is all you have…you have all you need.
Five Signs of a Hardened and Wicked Heart – Even after the Heart Transplant:
1) No Affliction:
How can we have been redeemed from the pit of hell and then withhold the good news from others is a mystery, but some will settle into their pews and not be interested in leaving the church to bring others into the kingdom. “Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.
You are good, and do good; Teach me Your statutes. The proud have forged a lie against me, But I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart. Their heart is as fat as grease, But I delight in Your law. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes” Psalm 119:67–71 (NKJV).
2) No Compassion:
Jesus spoke about many of the signs of His return in Matthew 24 and one of the signs would be when the love of many would grow cold or vex. “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” Matthew 24:12 (NKJV). Instead of having a natural affection for others, they love possessions over people. “For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self–control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:2–4).
3) No Contentment:
Whenever we start growing discontented with things in life, we are starting to harden our hearts a bit. It’s not that contentment comes naturally, because even the Apostle Paul had to learn contentment despite of his beatings, stoning’s, lashes, imprisonment, oppositions and persecutions. He learned how to put his confidence and trust in the Lord, regardless of what situations he had to face. “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need” Philippians 4:11–12 (NKJV). He learned how to be longsuffering and be patience for his deliverance.
4) No Conviction:
When a person begins to feel no conviction from sinning, the Spirit may not be as easily recognized next time. When we resist the conviction of the Spirit, small tiny callous will form over our heart. Now, when you grieve the Holy Spirit it will keep you from walking in righteousness with God and maintain healthy relationship with man. And, this is very dangerous, but this will keep you from following God’s will for you personal, ministry and professional life. “For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them” 2 Peter 2:21 (NKJV).
5) No Humility:
God resists the proud but gives grace to the gentlehearted, so says James in Chapter4, but the Greek word for opposed is “to range in battle with” or to “be at war with”. This means that God is at opposition or war with the proud and who wants to be at war with God. Therefore, if we are full of pride, we are more like Satan than God because Satan’s pride caused him to rebel against God and our hearts are wicked if we live a life of pride. “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble” James 4:6 (NKJV).