WEEK 21 MEMORY VERSE:
”Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.”
Revelation 16:15

Friday, August 7, 2009
Revelation 16:1- 21
The Hardness of the Human Heart
Now John describes in rapid succession the “third woe”, the outpouring of the seven bowl judgments. They are similar in nature to some of the plagues that have already come to pass, albeit more severe. One striking aspect of this account is the repetition after both the fourth and fifth bowls of the statement that those who worship the beast refuse to repent of what they have done and glorify God. It even says that they “cursed the God of heaven” because of their suffering. Even though it is reinforced strongly in the dialogue between the third angel and the altar that God’s judgments are just, the hardness of the hearts of these people is remarkable. Instead of seeing the truth, repenting, and glorifying God, even in torment they are totally set against him. This should cause two responses in us: First, we should guard our own hearts against this kind of hardness, being careful to stay humble, reverent, and softhearted toward God. It is dreadfully easy for pride, rebellion, and stubbornness to creep in and cause us to begin to harden against his lordship. Second, realizing the severity of the stubbornness of which those who turn from God are capable, we should be less surprised when our loving efforts, our reasonable arguments, and their own circumstances fail to soften people’s hearts in our day. We should certainly continue to reach out and try to extend the gospel offer of new life to as many as possible – we just need to realize deep down that it is a spiritual issue and not simply a matter of us finding the right answer, strategy, or compassionate act of service to soften their hearts. It is a matter of the will, and we are told that some will inevitably choose the darkness no matter what we do (and no matter what God does).

Prayer Starter:
Lord, please make me a humble, teachable, dedicated follower. Keep my heart soft toward you, and keep pride, rebellion, and stubbornness for from me. Use me to help others know you, but also heal me to process and deal with the truth that some simply will not.