Signs

Signs are things that we use many times to illustrate what we are talking about or what we want people to know.  There are road signs and there are street signs, there are signs on buildings and stores and also inside these places.  You will not drive or walk far before you see a sign of some kind to help you or someone else depending on the situation or circumstance.  Signs are a great help for all of us at times and we should be thankful for them when they are helpful to us.  

Now I want to talk about spiritual signs.  In the days that Jesus walked the earth He demonstrated many signs and wonders and many people saw them and many believed because of what they saw, but there were many others who did not believe.  It must have been very exciting to see Jesus heal the sick and to feed thousands with very little to start with and to cure leprosy and every other kind of disease and to even raise the dead.  But, even seeing these signs and wonders, many still did not believe, even when He cast out demons, many would not believe.  This is the problem when all you have is head knowledge and not heart knowledge.  I think all knowledge starts in the head, but until it gets down into the heart of a person, it doesn’t change their lives because thoughts come and go all the time, but when they get ingrained in a person’s heart and life they tend to shape that persons way of thinking.  

The heart that the Bible talks about is your emotions and more.  When people get angry and become bitter they are hardening their heart.  When things get so ingrained in a person’s heart it is almost impossible to get that person to change their mind.  That is why alcohol, drugs, porn, gambling and other things are so addicting, because of what they do to the center of a person’s emotions and feelings.  Let’s face it, these things alter a person’s way of seeing things, also their feelings and the way they live their lives.  If they indulge in these things long enough these things start to take over and control their lives.  Then there is only one way a person will ever be set completely free and that is through Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in a person’s life.   God’s Word says when the Son sets you free you are free indeed.

While indulging in these and other activities, people can end up with pretty hard hearts.  Did you ever hear someone say that person is unteachable?    That may be the results of a very stubborn and a very hard heart for a long period of time.  

Read what it says in Psalms 95:7-8, “Or He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice: ‘Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, as in the day of trial in the wilderness.’”

This shows that people can harden their own hearts and many have.  Then there are times when God may harden a person’s heart like He did with Pharaoh during the days that the Israelites were in Egypt and the time of the ten plagues in the book of Exodus, because Pharaoh had a stubborn heart.

Read Exodus 7:1-5, “So the Lord said to Moses: ‘See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I command you. And Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to send the children of Israel out of his land. And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.’”

Then read verse 14 in that same chapter, “So the Lord said to Moses: ‘Pharaoh’s heart is hard; he refuses to let the people go.’”

When God hardens a person’s heart, there is a real good reason for it.  In the days that Jesus walked the earth, the Jewish leaders always seemed to be seeking signs from Him because of their hard hearts, read Matthew 16:1-4, “Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, ‘When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.’ And He left them and departed.”   

Now think about yourselves, have you hardened your hearts through disbelief?  Will you only believe if the Lord shows you a sign or reveals Himself mercilessly to you?  Take a lesson from the Pharisees and Sadducees, how they hardened their hearts, and then taste and see that the Lord is good.  He loves you so much he laid His life down for you and was crucified, died and was buried but on the third day He rose again, praise His holy name!!  

So don’t harden your heart, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and believe that He loves you and repent of your sins and turn from them and ask Him to be your Lord and Savior!!  Something to think about, have a super day!!  May the good Lord bless you and yours with His perfect peace, love, joy, health and happiness!  Don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord for he is worthy!!