The Danger of a Hard Heart

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America. Several things can affect the function of our heart. One of those problems is arteriosclerosis. It is also called: “hardening of the arteries”. When plaque forms inside the artery walls it causes them to narrow, thereby restricting blood flow to the heart. This condition left untreated puts a person in serious physical danger.

A hard heart can put us in serious spiritual danger as well. Hebrews 3:12-15 describes this hard heart situation that can happen to believers. “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin…Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion”. Sin can accumulate in our lives and causes us to have a hard heart. This accumulation of sin restricts the flow in our relationship to God. Even the godly man David experienced a hard heart. After his sin with Bathsheba he lived with that hard heart until Nathan the prophet confronted him. In his repentance he said to the Lord: “When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah”.

Surgeons can treat hardening of the arteries in several ways. They can use stents or even bypass surgery to correct the problem. However, the only way God’s people can deal with a hard heart is genuine confession of sin and a restoration of the flow of our relationship with Him. Heart disease is a leading cause of spiritual sickness among God’s people. Do you have a hard heart? May our Heavenly Surgeon soften our hard heart and restore the flow of His grace today.