Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
The verse calls fellow believers to watch themselves closely so that none of them develops a wicked, distrustful heart that breaks away from the living God. That breaking away happens when sin deceives the heart and hardens it, until small wrongs are repeated and the conscience loses its tenderness. Its background is Israel in the wilderness in the provocation, when those who came out of Egypt tempted God for forty years, always went astray in heart and did not know His ways, and could not enter His rest because of unbelief. Believers therefore must urge one another daily while it is still called Today, hear His voice without hardening the heart, and hold their first confidence firm to the end in order to share in Christ and enter His rest. That history is repeated among God's people in the last days on the very borders of the heavenly Canaan, where unbelief still shuts people out of rest by turning praise into murmuring, trust in God into trust in men, and faith into doubt that spreads to others.
Words and Wilderness Example
The call is addressed to brethren to take heed lest there be in any of them an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. Unbelief is an evil condition of the heart that turns away from the living God, destroying confidence in the Son of God and turning praise into murmuring, leaving the soul vulnerable to deception, discord, rebellion, affliction and destruction. Guarding requires exhorting one another daily while it is called Today lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, and holding the beginning of confidence steadfast unto the end in order to be made partakers of Christ. Doubts encouraged by speaking and dwelling on them grow stronger, harden the heart, and become a means to spread unbelief to others.
Departing happens by hardening the heart through the deceitfulness of sin. Sin can appear clothed in righteousness and goodness, drawing away from truth into forbidden paths, and one violation of truthfulness prepares the way for a second until repeated wrongs harden the heart in unbelief and the conscience loses sensitiveness. Protection is keeping the Word always before the mind, exhorting one another daily, and staying constantly on guard, for those caught in the enemy's snare are hardened because they have not received heavenly light and may show intense earnestness yet be moved by a power from beneath that misunderstands, misquotes and misinterprets Scripture to gain possession of the mind.
The setting is Israel in the provocation in the day of temptation in the wilderness. The fathers tempted and proved God and saw His works forty years, yet always erred in heart and did not know His ways. Some who came out of Egypt by Moses when they heard did provoke, God was grieved forty years with them that sinned, their carcasses fell in the wilderness, and He swore in wrath they should not enter His rest because they believed not, showing they could not enter in because of unbelief. Hearing His voice Today means not hardening the heart as in the provocation.
All but two of the adults who left Egypt died in the wilderness for persistent backsliding, obstinacy, unbelief and idolatry bringing wrath and destruction. Only two who wholly followed Him were excepted, the two over twenty who remained faithful enough to enter the promised land, and it was not God's good pleasure that they should wander so long, for He would have brought them immediately to the promised land if they had submitted and loved to be led by Him. The children who entered Canaan were told not to follow their fathers' course.
The gospel was preached to Israel as well as now, but the word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. Israel failed to receive God's Word by faith and put it into practice, and their selfishness, pride, murmuring and unbelief brought guilt upon them. Likewise in Noah's day those who rejected his appeals perished, whereas heeding them as God's message would have saved them.
Departing means divorcing from God though truth was kept before them again and again and they might have known His ways. It is refusing to follow its teachings and following instead the wisdom of men not under God's direction. Refusing God's light and warnings is refusal of Christ, and resisting warnings and reproofs that expose defects and sins because their restrictions interfere with selfish indulgence does not make them untrue, for what is from God will stand. Rejecting present opportunities and warnings is that departure, and neglecting them may end in apostasy.
An evil heart of unbelief departs from the living God even in thought when faith in the living God weakens. In that weakening those in responsible positions, when appearances are unfavorable, murmur and complain, become suspicious, weigh words and actions in human scales, conjecture evil, want to fix things to their own minds and sit on the judgment seat, looking to men and trusting the arm of flesh, numbers and apparent capabilities instead of looking to God who proves His people. Turning from God includes turning from Christ the Leader to unbelievers and accepting their counsel against fellow believers, which separates from God and dishonors Him.
Holding Faith to the End
The warning is to be on guard against an evil heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God by hardening the heart as Israel did in the provocation in the day of temptation in the wilderness. The safeguard is to urge one another every day while it is still called Today, so that no one is hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Israel was promised blessing if they would obey His voice, but the leaders yielded to temptation and lost what was designed for them, and that danger still threatens because the unbelief that kept those who came out of Egypt by Moses from entering rest has not passed away. God was grieved forty years with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness, and He swore they should not enter His rest because they believed not, proving they could not enter because of unbelief. The gospel was preached to them as well as now, but the word preached did not profit them because it was not mixed with faith in those who heard it.
Sharing in Christ depends on holding the beginning of confidence steadfast to the end. That means keeping confidence and hope firm to the end without hardening the heart when His voice is heard, as in the provocation when some who heard did provoke. The call presses with special force on those who have had experience in the first and second and third angels' messages, who must not let sin deceive and harden them but encourage one another daily and hold confidence firm. Despite seeing His works they hardened their hearts and sinned and could not enter His rest because they did not believe, so believers are to remain partakers by the same steadfast holding to the end.
Today, if His voice is heard, hearts must not be hardened. A reverent fear must remain, lest with a promise left of entering His rest any should seem to come short of it. This calls for patience after doing the will of God so the promise may be received, living by faith and not drawing back, and repenting while it is still Today because delay is perilous. The protection is not to commit the same sins nor follow the same way of unbelief and rebellion as the children of Israel who always erred in heart and did not know His ways, but to exhort one another daily while it is called today lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Repeated in Last Days
Israel's experience in the provocation is repeated in the last years of the history of the people of God established by His grace and power, when history is repeated and past perils are encountered again intensified. As Israel was promised blessing if they would obey His voice yet the leaders yielded to Satan's temptations and lost what God designed to give, so the warning must be borne in mind because the same loss threatens again. The fathers tempted and proved God and saw His works forty years, hardened their hearts and would not hear His voice, erred in heart and knew not His ways, and listened to the voice and policy of Lucifer instead of obeying God, and therefore could not receive the blessings He designed and He swore in wrath they should not enter His rest. Their discontent despite miracles, with punishment for idolatry and ingratitude, stands recorded so that people may escape wrath, and its sins are lesson not excuse. Their history stands written for admonition of those upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Men greatly honored by God in the closing scenes pattern after ancient Israel. Satan obtains influence over men honored above all human intelligence as Solomon was honored. He works through a power from beneath to unsettle faith in the experience of the past which bore the signature of Heaven and to unsettle faith in the testimonies.
The warning applies to people living in the end times as well as to those who first heard it, and to believers in the time of the end who must guard against an evil heart of unbelief because unbelief leads to departing from the living God. It applies to the remnant people of God to the very close of this earth's history, on the very eve of the crisis where a living issue of vital importance involves eternal interests. It applies to God's people now just on the borders of the heavenly Canaan, who must not repeat the sin of the unfaithful spies. That sin means refusing doubts and criticisms and complaints that sow seeds of unbelief and distrust, magnifying difficulties into insurmountable obstacles until the whole congregation is leavened, breaks into lamentation and fear, murmurs against God-appointed leaders, casts reflections upon God, plans rebellion and return to Egypt, and stands ready to stone faithful witnesses like Caleb and Joshua who urge going up at once to possess the exceeding good land. Cherishing such unbelief causes the golden opportunity to pass by so the work God prepared to do to manifest His greatness and favor cannot be done. The call to hear God Today warns against hardening the heart as Israel did in the wilderness, when some who came out of Egypt provoked God though not all did, and sharing in Christ depends on holding confidence firm to the end with daily encouragement because sin deceives and hardens the heart.
The Jews' neglect of their time of visitation is given as warning, for Christ sees the same impenitence and rejection of His mercies among His professed followers. Their rejection of John's warning hardened their hearts and prepared them to reject the clearer light brought by Christ, admonishing those living at the end of the world not to presume they stand secure but to take heed lest they fall. Rejecting present opportunities and warnings is departure itself, and professed followers who refuse God's warnings may fall into apostasy. Those who profess the truth can become hardened with unbelief by rejecting the great light and truth given to them, so that they do not know the time of their visitation, while unbelievers who have not had that great light and have not rejected light and truth can still have ears to hear and hearts to feel and respond with tears. As ancient Israel's unbelief kept them from entering Canaan, professed commandment keepers today can likewise forfeit the heavenly Canaan despite great light and privilege, and must take heed to trust His direction rather than their own wisdom and obey instead of doubting or rebelling.
How Unbelief Works
Unbelief destroys confidence in the Son of God and turns praise into murmuring and complaint. Hardship, thirst and distress expose distrust, as at Rephidim Israel forgot past care and doubted that God had failed or abandoned them, failing to repent and learn what trials were meant to teach about dependence on Him. Anxiety, fear and distrust about trials and future needs repeat that wilderness unbelief despite mercies, provision, miracles and help already received, treating difficulties as impossible. Faith instead rests calmly in God's leading, remembers His power, love and constant mercy, recognizes He knows best, and lets gratitude replace distrust so that spiritual strength is not weakened and the heart is not hardened through sin's deceit.
It looks to men and trusts the arm of flesh, to numbers and apparent capabilities, instead of looking to God who proves His people and manifests His grace and power again and again. It puts human teachers and finite wisdom in place of divine wisdom, relies on its own wisdom, seeks to exalt self and to find salvation by its own works, and seeks help from those who do not serve Him rather than trusting to be led by Him alone. When appearances are unfavorable this unbelief dishonors God by treating His presence and power as insufficient, and trial and having to stand alone and explain belief expose how confused and poorly supported such professed faith is. Idolatry begins here, in the evil heart that turns from the living God because it does not trust Him.
Doubts encouraged by speaking and dwelling on them grow stronger, shut out light, harden the heart, and become a channel for spreading unbelief to others. Believers are therefore to resist doubt rather than entertain and feed it, exhorting one another daily and holding confidence in Christ steadfast to the end. Treating doubt and quibbling as virtues gives room to reject the inspiration and truths of Scripture, for people are not compelled to believe but may choose either the evidence God has given or persistent doubt and ruin.
Pride and impatience lead people to demand that Scripture satisfy their own understanding and, when it does not, to deny its authority. They criticize what they cannot understand about God's purposes and mysteries, choose darkness rather than light, and refuse through pride or unwillingness to learn to investigate and study what Scripture reveals. God's Word and its warnings, correction and reproof may be resisted because restrictions interfere with selfish indulgence and expose defects and sins, and their divine source may be doubted to excuse disobedience, but doubting them to escape obedience does not make them untrue, for what is from God will stand and to resist them is to resist God who speaks through them.
It shows itself in suspicion, distrust, evil surmising, evil thinking and evil speaking. When faith weakens, even in thought, people in responsible positions weigh others' words and actions in human scales, conjecture evil, charge lack where it does not belong, want to fix things to their own minds, and sit on the judgment seat instead of seeing where fault lies and having character molded after the divine similitude. Suspicion of another's character is no inheritance from Christ and must be subdued and overcome as a first and daily work lest expressing it lead others to view brother or sister unkindly, for Christians are to represent Christ and through Him represent God to the world. Warfare among believers in the solemn hours before the judgment is Satan's work, begun in heaven and kept up with unabated energy since his fall, consuming those who bite and devour one another instead of watching as faithful watchmen for the coming morning and night.
It leads to backsliding, obstinacy, disobedience, rebellion and idolatry, divorcing from God and refusing to follow the teachings of truth kept again and again before the mind in favor of the wisdom of men not under His direction. Unbelief is shown not only by denying Christ's return in words but by living as though it were far off, becoming careless, disobeying God's word, rejecting reproof, conforming to the world, neglecting personal responsibility and service, mistreating fellow servants and joining the world in its pleasures, knowing truth yet failing to practice it and remaining fruitless. As the root of idolatry with impure thoughts and motives it acts a lie day by day, exalts self, seeks salvation by works, and makes appetite an idol when health reform is resisted, bringing wrath and destruction as when all but two adults who left Egypt died in the wilderness.
Rest, Life, and Judgment
Unbelief shuts people out of God's rest, for they cannot enter in because they believed not. The danger is hardening the heart as in the provocation, when some who came out of Egypt by Moses when they heard did provoke, always erred in heart and did not know His ways though they saw His works forty years. God was grieved forty years with them that sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness, and swore in His wrath they should not enter His rest because they believed not. The gospel was preached to Israel as well as now, but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. Therefore if His voice is heard Today hearts must not be hardened, but fear must remain lest a promise being left of entering His rest any should seem to come short of it, by exhorting one another daily while it is called Today lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, and by holding the beginning of confidence steadfast unto the end to remain partakers of Christ, especially those with experience in the first and second and third angels' messages.
Departing from the living God cuts off eternal life, since eternal life is knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent. Those entrusted with sacred truth and the opened living oracles must stay with God in order to arise and shine because their light has come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon them. The ancient people received the sacred oracles but misinterpreted and misapplied God's revealed Word and despised the Word of the Holy One of Israel, showing the need to take heed lest a disbelieving evil heart develop and cause departure, with daily mutual exhortation while it is still called Today so no one becomes hardened by the deceit of sin and with firm confidence held to the end without hardening the heart as in the provocation in the wilderness when those who heard still provoked even among those brought out by Moses.
Refusing God's present invitations to hear and obey risks making the present appeal the last invitation of mercy, for there is no second probation after it is refused. Carelessness and indifference toward God's requirements can lead to disobedience and a hardened heart that departs in unbelief. Believers must heed the word of the Lord now while it is called Today and turn fully to Him to receive mercy and abundant pardon and to be found ready when He comes suddenly.
Unbelief prevents God's mighty works, as in Christ's own country and in the Sydney church. Refusing God's light and warnings is refusal of Christ, hardening the heart and keeping people from entering God's rest, and ancient Israel's unbelief, self-confidence, impenitence, blindness and hardness brought calamity and rejection as a warning to God's people in the last days. Persisting in backsliding, obstinacy, unbelief and idolatry brings God's wrath and destruction, as shown when all but two of the adults who left Egypt died in the wilderness and the children who entered Canaan were told not to follow their fathers' course, divorcing from God though truth was kept before them again and again and they might have known His ways, refusing to follow its teachings and following instead the wisdom of men not under God's direction. Israel's history of discontent despite miracles and punishment for idolatry and ingratitude is recorded as a warning so people may escape wrath, its sins part of the lesson and not examples excusing wrongdoing. Persistent resistance to God's Spirit hardens the will against repentance, confession and pardon and leaves people to the results of their own choices, calling for repentance while it is still Today because delay is perilous. Unbelief can become a settled heart-condition that clings to falsehood as truth and truth as falsehood despite evidence, leaving people unable to receive correction, conviction or pardon not because mercy is exhausted but because they resist the Spirit who alone can lead, enlighten and save, and this can lead to rejecting God's messages and messengers and blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
An evil heart of unbelief keeps believers from the confidence and joy God desires for them. It is spiritual sloth and paralysis that dishonors God and imperils the soul and must be shaken off by consecrating self to God, humbly taking Him at His word, and pressing forward to higher attainments, purer love and deeper experience. The cure is to draw near to God without waiting for better opportunities, strong persuasions, holier tempers, better circumstances or feelings, trusting only in the power of Jesus to save and coming just as we are to receive the Holy Spirit the Father is more willing to give than earthly parents give good gifts, and to accept the crown of life He holds out.
Practical Applications for Believers
The danger is real even for tested and tried people, for ministers, workers, and all in responsible positions entrusted with talents to trade with. Negligence leaves the soul open to Satan's snares, for sin's deceit can catch the unwary unprepared and harden the heart. Therefore watch carefully, seek the Lord most earnestly, keep a sensitive conscience and close guard on self, trust the Lord, and draw nigh to God to have Him draw nigh. This means not hardening the heart as in the provocation in the day of temptation in the wilderness, when the fathers tempted God and saw His works forty years and always erred in heart and did not know His ways. It rebukes personal feelings, criticism, suspicion, murmuring and complaint when appearances are unfavorable, weighing others' words and actions in human scales, conjecturing evil, charging lack where it does not belong, wanting to fix things to one's own mind and sit on the judgment seat, instead of seeing where the fault lies and having character molded after the divine similitude.
The safeguard is to cherish faith, talk faith, and act faith under all circumstances, with confidence that God gives wisdom to those placed in trust. Protection requires keeping the Word of God always before the mind, using, practicing and trusting it soberly and meekly, exhorting one another daily while it is called Today, staying constantly on guard, and holding the beginning of confidence steadfast unto the end in order to be made partakers of Christ. Hardship and disappointment test faith and can prompt doubt that God has failed or abandoned His people, as at Rephidim Israel forgot His past care; but God permits trials to teach dependence on Him, His love and mercy remain constant, and faith rests calmly in His leading and recognizes He knows best. Departing happens through hardening by the deceitfulness of sin, for temptation always presents itself under the guise of goodness and sin can appear clothed in righteousness to draw away from truth into forbidden paths. One violation of straightforward truthfulness prepares the way for a second, and repeated wrongs harden the heart in unbelief until the conscience loses sensitiveness, while those caught in the enemy's snare may show intense earnestness yet be moved by a power from beneath that causes misunderstanding, misquoting and misinterpretation of Scripture to gain possession of the mind.
Speaking words of unbelief casts reflection on God, who is too wise to err and too good to do harm, so hearts must be humbled before Him and forgiveness asked for such words, remembering His power, love and past mercies and help already received. Amid distractions that consume mind and abilities, vigilance is called for to remain faithful in pursuing eternal life. God bids His people go forward and not turn backward to Egypt in unbelief. Faith in Christ is shown by arising to the present emergency, watching for souls as those who must give account, reflecting Christ's life, using every entrusted intellectual power and talent in His service, cooperating with Him in saving souls by obedience to God's requirements, and by precept and example winning men back to allegiance and teaching self-respect because of the infinite price paid for redemption. Though the soil is stubborn it must be broken up and seeds of righteousness sown, without doubt or discouragement, for an evil heart of unbelief can thwart holy plans and consecrated effort.
Unbelief is exposed when one needing help is treated unjustly by being denied a chance to answer charges or recover, for such events expose hearts and develop character. Even a small departure from what is right can begin a progression that separates from God and may end in apostasy, since indulging one wrong feeling or action prepares the way for further wrongdoing, and habits formed through repeated practice, whether good or evil, are difficult to abandon. Such a heart makes educational advantages an occasion for greater defiance rather than benefit, when without carefully guarding the mind a person persists in forbidden conduct, dares to do what God forbids, and leads others into evil and astray. Pride and unbelief in parents endanger children, for deception and falsehood in the home together with superficial and mistaken views of the principles and examples shaping them leave them in danger, and rescuing them requires earnest, untiring, persevering effort.
Those with light in the Word and in the Testimonies are called to read and consider and take heed, for clear and definite instruction has been given so all may understand, meaning to hold firm the beginning of confidence in the truth given them. The itching desire to originate something new results in strange doctrines and largely destroys the influence of those who would otherwise be a power for good, seen in erroneous theories and methods brought into camp meetings, repetition of past fanaticism, and music made a snare by the way it is conducted, which is worked amid with din and confusion to make truth disgusting to sensible people and cause camp meetings to lose force and influence. Instead of becoming agents to make little of solemn important truth professed, stand firmly and steadfastly at the post of duty in defense of truth when God's law is made void and commandments of men have taken the place of God's commandments. In the last remnant of time do aggressive work with clear spiritual eyesight, watch and work and pray, seek truth as hidden treasure and recover precious truths buried under human tradition, show constantly increasing interest in eternal things, and value highly the favor of His friendship.
On the very eve of the crisis, to the very close of this earth's history where a living issue of vital importance involves eternal interests, it is no time to be found with unbelief departing from the living God. This means not relaxing efforts, becoming tame and spiritless, hiding light under a bushel, speaking smooth things, prophesying deceit, compromising, or being turned aside by any suggestion the world makes, but employing every power for God and maintaining allegiance bearing testimony for God and for truth. Wicked unbelief makes people depart even after living in the light and knowing the truth, showing itself in disloyalty to brethren, becoming traitors to truth and to God, and turning away from Jesus as disciples did when they rejected His teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His blood. Such ones become agents adopted and inspired by Satan while claiming to be sanctified, full of the Holy Spirit, and to have great light, manufacturing falsehoods, perverting truth, misrepresenting others from house to house, and bearing false witness. Heed God's words so as not to let them slip, put away unbelief and practice the self-denial taught in His Word, and then the message goes with power, God hears prayers for conversion of souls, and good works lead unbelievers to glorify the Father.
A troubled, backsliding soul need not despair into departure but may hold fast to faith in Jesus the merciful High Priest and come to God for mercy and help, for despair and suffering need not lead away from Him whose compassion gives reason to trust. Unbelief dishonors Christ when people turn from Him to seek wisdom from finite human beings, and it is a weight to cast away by going to Christ the source of strength and trusting His pity and compassion. He gave His life and bore the wounds caused by transgression so that people might become prisoners of hope.
The verse calls fellow believers to watch themselves closely so that none of them develops a wicked, distrustful heart that breaks away from the living God. That breaking away happens when sin deceives the heart and hardens it, until small wrongs are repeated and the conscience loses its tenderness. Its background is Israel in the wilderness in the provocation, when those who came out of Egypt tempted God for forty years, always went astray in heart and did not know His ways, and could not enter His rest because of unbelief. Believers therefore must urge one another daily while it is still called Today, hear His voice without hardening the heart, and hold their first confidence firm to the end in order to share in Christ and enter His rest. That history is repeated among God's people in the last days on the very borders of the heavenly Canaan, where unbelief still shuts people out of rest by turning praise into murmuring, trust in God into trust in men, and faith into doubt that spreads to others.
Words and Wilderness Example
The call is addressed to brethren to take heed lest there be in any of them an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. Unbelief is an evil condition of the heart that turns away from the living God, destroying confidence in the Son of God and turning praise into murmuring, leaving the soul vulnerable to deception, discord, rebellion, affliction and destruction. Guarding requires exhorting one another daily while it is called Today lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, and holding the beginning of confidence steadfast unto the end in order to be made partakers of Christ. Doubts encouraged by speaking and dwelling on them grow stronger, harden the heart, and become a means to spread unbelief to others.
Departing happens by hardening the heart through the deceitfulness of sin. Sin can appear clothed in righteousness and goodness, drawing away from truth into forbidden paths, and one violation of truthfulness prepares the way for a second until repeated wrongs harden the heart in unbelief and the conscience loses sensitiveness. Protection is keeping the Word always before the mind, exhorting one another daily, and staying constantly on guard, for those caught in the enemy's snare are hardened because they have not received heavenly light and may show intense earnestness yet be moved by a power from beneath that misunderstands, misquotes and misinterprets Scripture to gain possession of the mind.
The setting is Israel in the provocation in the day of temptation in the wilderness. The fathers tempted and proved God and saw His works forty years, yet always erred in heart and did not know His ways. Some who came out of Egypt by Moses when they heard did provoke, God was grieved forty years with them that sinned, their carcasses fell in the wilderness, and He swore in wrath they should not enter His rest because they believed not, showing they could not enter in because of unbelief. Hearing His voice Today means not hardening the heart as in the provocation.
All but two of the adults who left Egypt died in the wilderness for persistent backsliding, obstinacy, unbelief and idolatry bringing wrath and destruction. Only two who wholly followed Him were excepted, the two over twenty who remained faithful enough to enter the promised land, and it was not God's good pleasure that they should wander so long, for He would have brought them immediately to the promised land if they had submitted and loved to be led by Him. The children who entered Canaan were told not to follow their fathers' course.
The gospel was preached to Israel as well as now, but the word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. Israel failed to receive God's Word by faith and put it into practice, and their selfishness, pride, murmuring and unbelief brought guilt upon them. Likewise in Noah's day those who rejected his appeals perished, whereas heeding them as God's message would have saved them.
Departing means divorcing from God though truth was kept before them again and again and they might have known His ways. It is refusing to follow its teachings and following instead the wisdom of men not under God's direction. Refusing God's light and warnings is refusal of Christ, and resisting warnings and reproofs that expose defects and sins because their restrictions interfere with selfish indulgence does not make them untrue, for what is from God will stand. Rejecting present opportunities and warnings is that departure, and neglecting them may end in apostasy.
An evil heart of unbelief departs from the living God even in thought when faith in the living God weakens. In that weakening those in responsible positions, when appearances are unfavorable, murmur and complain, become suspicious, weigh words and actions in human scales, conjecture evil, want to fix things to their own minds and sit on the judgment seat, looking to men and trusting the arm of flesh, numbers and apparent capabilities instead of looking to God who proves His people. Turning from God includes turning from Christ the Leader to unbelievers and accepting their counsel against fellow believers, which separates from God and dishonors Him.
Holding Faith to the End
The warning is to be on guard against an evil heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God by hardening the heart as Israel did in the provocation in the day of temptation in the wilderness. The safeguard is to urge one another every day while it is still called Today, so that no one is hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Israel was promised blessing if they would obey His voice, but the leaders yielded to temptation and lost what was designed for them, and that danger still threatens because the unbelief that kept those who came out of Egypt by Moses from entering rest has not passed away. God was grieved forty years with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness, and He swore they should not enter His rest because they believed not, proving they could not enter because of unbelief. The gospel was preached to them as well as now, but the word preached did not profit them because it was not mixed with faith in those who heard it.
Sharing in Christ depends on holding the beginning of confidence steadfast to the end. That means keeping confidence and hope firm to the end without hardening the heart when His voice is heard, as in the provocation when some who heard did provoke. The call presses with special force on those who have had experience in the first and second and third angels' messages, who must not let sin deceive and harden them but encourage one another daily and hold confidence firm. Despite seeing His works they hardened their hearts and sinned and could not enter His rest because they did not believe, so believers are to remain partakers by the same steadfast holding to the end.
Today, if His voice is heard, hearts must not be hardened. A reverent fear must remain, lest with a promise left of entering His rest any should seem to come short of it. This calls for patience after doing the will of God so the promise may be received, living by faith and not drawing back, and repenting while it is still Today because delay is perilous. The protection is not to commit the same sins nor follow the same way of unbelief and rebellion as the children of Israel who always erred in heart and did not know His ways, but to exhort one another daily while it is called today lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Repeated in Last Days
Israel's experience in the provocation is repeated in the last years of the history of the people of God established by His grace and power, when history is repeated and past perils are encountered again intensified. As Israel was promised blessing if they would obey His voice yet the leaders yielded to Satan's temptations and lost what God designed to give, so the warning must be borne in mind because the same loss threatens again. The fathers tempted and proved God and saw His works forty years, hardened their hearts and would not hear His voice, erred in heart and knew not His ways, and listened to the voice and policy of Lucifer instead of obeying God, and therefore could not receive the blessings He designed and He swore in wrath they should not enter His rest. Their discontent despite miracles, with punishment for idolatry and ingratitude, stands recorded so that people may escape wrath, and its sins are lesson not excuse. Their history stands written for admonition of those upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Men greatly honored by God in the closing scenes pattern after ancient Israel. Satan obtains influence over men honored above all human intelligence as Solomon was honored. He works through a power from beneath to unsettle faith in the experience of the past which bore the signature of Heaven and to unsettle faith in the testimonies.
The warning applies to people living in the end times as well as to those who first heard it, and to believers in the time of the end who must guard against an evil heart of unbelief because unbelief leads to departing from the living God. It applies to the remnant people of God to the very close of this earth's history, on the very eve of the crisis where a living issue of vital importance involves eternal interests. It applies to God's people now just on the borders of the heavenly Canaan, who must not repeat the sin of the unfaithful spies. That sin means refusing doubts and criticisms and complaints that sow seeds of unbelief and distrust, magnifying difficulties into insurmountable obstacles until the whole congregation is leavened, breaks into lamentation and fear, murmurs against God-appointed leaders, casts reflections upon God, plans rebellion and return to Egypt, and stands ready to stone faithful witnesses like Caleb and Joshua who urge going up at once to possess the exceeding good land. Cherishing such unbelief causes the golden opportunity to pass by so the work God prepared to do to manifest His greatness and favor cannot be done. The call to hear God Today warns against hardening the heart as Israel did in the wilderness, when some who came out of Egypt provoked God though not all did, and sharing in Christ depends on holding confidence firm to the end with daily encouragement because sin deceives and hardens the heart.
The Jews' neglect of their time of visitation is given as warning, for Christ sees the same impenitence and rejection of His mercies among His professed followers. Their rejection of John's warning hardened their hearts and prepared them to reject the clearer light brought by Christ, admonishing those living at the end of the world not to presume they stand secure but to take heed lest they fall. Rejecting present opportunities and warnings is departure itself, and professed followers who refuse God's warnings may fall into apostasy. Those who profess the truth can become hardened with unbelief by rejecting the great light and truth given to them, so that they do not know the time of their visitation, while unbelievers who have not had that great light and have not rejected light and truth can still have ears to hear and hearts to feel and respond with tears. As ancient Israel's unbelief kept them from entering Canaan, professed commandment keepers today can likewise forfeit the heavenly Canaan despite great light and privilege, and must take heed to trust His direction rather than their own wisdom and obey instead of doubting or rebelling.
How Unbelief Works
Unbelief destroys confidence in the Son of God and turns praise into murmuring and complaint. Hardship, thirst and distress expose distrust, as at Rephidim Israel forgot past care and doubted that God had failed or abandoned them, failing to repent and learn what trials were meant to teach about dependence on Him. Anxiety, fear and distrust about trials and future needs repeat that wilderness unbelief despite mercies, provision, miracles and help already received, treating difficulties as impossible. Faith instead rests calmly in God's leading, remembers His power, love and constant mercy, recognizes He knows best, and lets gratitude replace distrust so that spiritual strength is not weakened and the heart is not hardened through sin's deceit.
It looks to men and trusts the arm of flesh, to numbers and apparent capabilities, instead of looking to God who proves His people and manifests His grace and power again and again. It puts human teachers and finite wisdom in place of divine wisdom, relies on its own wisdom, seeks to exalt self and to find salvation by its own works, and seeks help from those who do not serve Him rather than trusting to be led by Him alone. When appearances are unfavorable this unbelief dishonors God by treating His presence and power as insufficient, and trial and having to stand alone and explain belief expose how confused and poorly supported such professed faith is. Idolatry begins here, in the evil heart that turns from the living God because it does not trust Him.
Doubts encouraged by speaking and dwelling on them grow stronger, shut out light, harden the heart, and become a channel for spreading unbelief to others. Believers are therefore to resist doubt rather than entertain and feed it, exhorting one another daily and holding confidence in Christ steadfast to the end. Treating doubt and quibbling as virtues gives room to reject the inspiration and truths of Scripture, for people are not compelled to believe but may choose either the evidence God has given or persistent doubt and ruin.
Pride and impatience lead people to demand that Scripture satisfy their own understanding and, when it does not, to deny its authority. They criticize what they cannot understand about God's purposes and mysteries, choose darkness rather than light, and refuse through pride or unwillingness to learn to investigate and study what Scripture reveals. God's Word and its warnings, correction and reproof may be resisted because restrictions interfere with selfish indulgence and expose defects and sins, and their divine source may be doubted to excuse disobedience, but doubting them to escape obedience does not make them untrue, for what is from God will stand and to resist them is to resist God who speaks through them.
It shows itself in suspicion, distrust, evil surmising, evil thinking and evil speaking. When faith weakens, even in thought, people in responsible positions weigh others' words and actions in human scales, conjecture evil, charge lack where it does not belong, want to fix things to their own minds, and sit on the judgment seat instead of seeing where fault lies and having character molded after the divine similitude. Suspicion of another's character is no inheritance from Christ and must be subdued and overcome as a first and daily work lest expressing it lead others to view brother or sister unkindly, for Christians are to represent Christ and through Him represent God to the world. Warfare among believers in the solemn hours before the judgment is Satan's work, begun in heaven and kept up with unabated energy since his fall, consuming those who bite and devour one another instead of watching as faithful watchmen for the coming morning and night.
It leads to backsliding, obstinacy, disobedience, rebellion and idolatry, divorcing from God and refusing to follow the teachings of truth kept again and again before the mind in favor of the wisdom of men not under His direction. Unbelief is shown not only by denying Christ's return in words but by living as though it were far off, becoming careless, disobeying God's word, rejecting reproof, conforming to the world, neglecting personal responsibility and service, mistreating fellow servants and joining the world in its pleasures, knowing truth yet failing to practice it and remaining fruitless. As the root of idolatry with impure thoughts and motives it acts a lie day by day, exalts self, seeks salvation by works, and makes appetite an idol when health reform is resisted, bringing wrath and destruction as when all but two adults who left Egypt died in the wilderness.
Rest, Life, and Judgment
Unbelief shuts people out of God's rest, for they cannot enter in because they believed not. The danger is hardening the heart as in the provocation, when some who came out of Egypt by Moses when they heard did provoke, always erred in heart and did not know His ways though they saw His works forty years. God was grieved forty years with them that sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness, and swore in His wrath they should not enter His rest because they believed not. The gospel was preached to Israel as well as now, but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. Therefore if His voice is heard Today hearts must not be hardened, but fear must remain lest a promise being left of entering His rest any should seem to come short of it, by exhorting one another daily while it is called Today lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, and by holding the beginning of confidence steadfast unto the end to remain partakers of Christ, especially those with experience in the first and second and third angels' messages.
Departing from the living God cuts off eternal life, since eternal life is knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent. Those entrusted with sacred truth and the opened living oracles must stay with God in order to arise and shine because their light has come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon them. The ancient people received the sacred oracles but misinterpreted and misapplied God's revealed Word and despised the Word of the Holy One of Israel, showing the need to take heed lest a disbelieving evil heart develop and cause departure, with daily mutual exhortation while it is still called Today so no one becomes hardened by the deceit of sin and with firm confidence held to the end without hardening the heart as in the provocation in the wilderness when those who heard still provoked even among those brought out by Moses.
Refusing God's present invitations to hear and obey risks making the present appeal the last invitation of mercy, for there is no second probation after it is refused. Carelessness and indifference toward God's requirements can lead to disobedience and a hardened heart that departs in unbelief. Believers must heed the word of the Lord now while it is called Today and turn fully to Him to receive mercy and abundant pardon and to be found ready when He comes suddenly.
Unbelief prevents God's mighty works, as in Christ's own country and in the Sydney church. Refusing God's light and warnings is refusal of Christ, hardening the heart and keeping people from entering God's rest, and ancient Israel's unbelief, self-confidence, impenitence, blindness and hardness brought calamity and rejection as a warning to God's people in the last days. Persisting in backsliding, obstinacy, unbelief and idolatry brings God's wrath and destruction, as shown when all but two of the adults who left Egypt died in the wilderness and the children who entered Canaan were told not to follow their fathers' course, divorcing from God though truth was kept before them again and again and they might have known His ways, refusing to follow its teachings and following instead the wisdom of men not under God's direction. Israel's history of discontent despite miracles and punishment for idolatry and ingratitude is recorded as a warning so people may escape wrath, its sins part of the lesson and not examples excusing wrongdoing. Persistent resistance to God's Spirit hardens the will against repentance, confession and pardon and leaves people to the results of their own choices, calling for repentance while it is still Today because delay is perilous. Unbelief can become a settled heart-condition that clings to falsehood as truth and truth as falsehood despite evidence, leaving people unable to receive correction, conviction or pardon not because mercy is exhausted but because they resist the Spirit who alone can lead, enlighten and save, and this can lead to rejecting God's messages and messengers and blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
An evil heart of unbelief keeps believers from the confidence and joy God desires for them. It is spiritual sloth and paralysis that dishonors God and imperils the soul and must be shaken off by consecrating self to God, humbly taking Him at His word, and pressing forward to higher attainments, purer love and deeper experience. The cure is to draw near to God without waiting for better opportunities, strong persuasions, holier tempers, better circumstances or feelings, trusting only in the power of Jesus to save and coming just as we are to receive the Holy Spirit the Father is more willing to give than earthly parents give good gifts, and to accept the crown of life He holds out.
Practical Applications for Believers
The danger is real even for tested and tried people, for ministers, workers, and all in responsible positions entrusted with talents to trade with. Negligence leaves the soul open to Satan's snares, for sin's deceit can catch the unwary unprepared and harden the heart. Therefore watch carefully, seek the Lord most earnestly, keep a sensitive conscience and close guard on self, trust the Lord, and draw nigh to God to have Him draw nigh. This means not hardening the heart as in the provocation in the day of temptation in the wilderness, when the fathers tempted God and saw His works forty years and always erred in heart and did not know His ways. It rebukes personal feelings, criticism, suspicion, murmuring and complaint when appearances are unfavorable, weighing others' words and actions in human scales, conjecturing evil, charging lack where it does not belong, wanting to fix things to one's own mind and sit on the judgment seat, instead of seeing where the fault lies and having character molded after the divine similitude.
The safeguard is to cherish faith, talk faith, and act faith under all circumstances, with confidence that God gives wisdom to those placed in trust. Protection requires keeping the Word of God always before the mind, using, practicing and trusting it soberly and meekly, exhorting one another daily while it is called Today, staying constantly on guard, and holding the beginning of confidence steadfast unto the end in order to be made partakers of Christ. Hardship and disappointment test faith and can prompt doubt that God has failed or abandoned His people, as at Rephidim Israel forgot His past care; but God permits trials to teach dependence on Him, His love and mercy remain constant, and faith rests calmly in His leading and recognizes He knows best. Departing happens through hardening by the deceitfulness of sin, for temptation always presents itself under the guise of goodness and sin can appear clothed in righteousness to draw away from truth into forbidden paths. One violation of straightforward truthfulness prepares the way for a second, and repeated wrongs harden the heart in unbelief until the conscience loses sensitiveness, while those caught in the enemy's snare may show intense earnestness yet be moved by a power from beneath that causes misunderstanding, misquoting and misinterpretation of Scripture to gain possession of the mind.
Speaking words of unbelief casts reflection on God, who is too wise to err and too good to do harm, so hearts must be humbled before Him and forgiveness asked for such words, remembering His power, love and past mercies and help already received. Amid distractions that consume mind and abilities, vigilance is called for to remain faithful in pursuing eternal life. God bids His people go forward and not turn backward to Egypt in unbelief. Faith in Christ is shown by arising to the present emergency, watching for souls as those who must give account, reflecting Christ's life, using every entrusted intellectual power and talent in His service, cooperating with Him in saving souls by obedience to God's requirements, and by precept and example winning men back to allegiance and teaching self-respect because of the infinite price paid for redemption. Though the soil is stubborn it must be broken up and seeds of righteousness sown, without doubt or discouragement, for an evil heart of unbelief can thwart holy plans and consecrated effort.
Unbelief is exposed when one needing help is treated unjustly by being denied a chance to answer charges or recover, for such events expose hearts and develop character. Even a small departure from what is right can begin a progression that separates from God and may end in apostasy, since indulging one wrong feeling or action prepares the way for further wrongdoing, and habits formed through repeated practice, whether good or evil, are difficult to abandon. Such a heart makes educational advantages an occasion for greater defiance rather than benefit, when without carefully guarding the mind a person persists in forbidden conduct, dares to do what God forbids, and leads others into evil and astray. Pride and unbelief in parents endanger children, for deception and falsehood in the home together with superficial and mistaken views of the principles and examples shaping them leave them in danger, and rescuing them requires earnest, untiring, persevering effort.
Those with light in the Word and in the Testimonies are called to read and consider and take heed, for clear and definite instruction has been given so all may understand, meaning to hold firm the beginning of confidence in the truth given them. The itching desire to originate something new results in strange doctrines and largely destroys the influence of those who would otherwise be a power for good, seen in erroneous theories and methods brought into camp meetings, repetition of past fanaticism, and music made a snare by the way it is conducted, which is worked amid with din and confusion to make truth disgusting to sensible people and cause camp meetings to lose force and influence. Instead of becoming agents to make little of solemn important truth professed, stand firmly and steadfastly at the post of duty in defense of truth when God's law is made void and commandments of men have taken the place of God's commandments. In the last remnant of time do aggressive work with clear spiritual eyesight, watch and work and pray, seek truth as hidden treasure and recover precious truths buried under human tradition, show constantly increasing interest in eternal things, and value highly the favor of His friendship.
On the very eve of the crisis, to the very close of this earth's history where a living issue of vital importance involves eternal interests, it is no time to be found with unbelief departing from the living God. This means not relaxing efforts, becoming tame and spiritless, hiding light under a bushel, speaking smooth things, prophesying deceit, compromising, or being turned aside by any suggestion the world makes, but employing every power for God and maintaining allegiance bearing testimony for God and for truth. Wicked unbelief makes people depart even after living in the light and knowing the truth, showing itself in disloyalty to brethren, becoming traitors to truth and to God, and turning away from Jesus as disciples did when they rejected His teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His blood. Such ones become agents adopted and inspired by Satan while claiming to be sanctified, full of the Holy Spirit, and to have great light, manufacturing falsehoods, perverting truth, misrepresenting others from house to house, and bearing false witness. Heed God's words so as not to let them slip, put away unbelief and practice the self-denial taught in His Word, and then the message goes with power, God hears prayers for conversion of souls, and good works lead unbelievers to glorify the Father.
A troubled, backsliding soul need not despair into departure but may hold fast to faith in Jesus the merciful High Priest and come to God for mercy and help, for despair and suffering need not lead away from Him whose compassion gives reason to trust. Unbelief dishonors Christ when people turn from Him to seek wisdom from finite human beings, and it is a weight to cast away by going to Christ the source of strength and trusting His pity and compassion. He gave His life and bore the wounds caused by transgression so that people might become prisoners of hope.