by David Falk | Download PDF | Purchase Hardcopy

It is very sad when good people become victims of their own stubbornness. They are prepared to accept the consequences of calamity, rather than humbling themselves. We ought to keep our heart with all diligence. This is easy to say, but not easy to do; particularly when things are not going well for us. 

Two statements from the book of Proverbs have particularly impacted me. Firstly, ‘He who hardens his heart will fall into calamity’. Prov 28:14. And secondly, ‘He who stiffens his neck will be broken suddenly beyond remedy’. Prov 29:1. The Lord Himself, even with His enduring patience, finally allows the stubborn person to fall into calamity.

Cain was one such man. His calamity was the result of ‘stiffening his neck’. It did not have to be that way. His offering was not accepted because it was not commensurate with him as a person. What an amazing thought that the Lord accepts or rejects us on this basis. Cain was evidently not being Cain. Anacceptable offering is one that is representative of the offerer. And so the Lord said to him, ‘If you do well shall you not be accepted?’ Gen 4:7. However, Cain rose up in anger against his brother and killed him. The Scriptures call this type of response ‘the way of Cain’. Jude 1:11.

We’ll recall the Lord asked him, ‘Where is your brother?’ And he replied, ‘Am I my brother's keeper?’ Cain responded with remarkable composure. As we mature in life, we learn to maintain our composure under pressure. The ability to keep our demeanor and to rule our spirit demonstrates self-control. Nevertheless, this is not always a virtue. This response may simply demonstrate a ‘hard heart’ or a ‘stiff neck’.

There are seasons in our lives when we are experiencing major adjustment. Of course, discretion is needed at this time. However, in the case of Cain, his composure demonstrated his stubborn resolve. He did not take heed to the word of the Lord to him.

Over the years I have seen many people walk away from Christ when change was imposed upon them. The change was not of their choosing, or they could not see God’s hand in their lives. The Scripture has much to say concerning our hope and future even when we are in a dark place. In the time of the Babylonian captivity, God reassured His people: 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope.’ Jer 29:11. When you are experiencing difficulties and trials, you can choose to go the way of Cain or allow the Lord to work in your life.

The psalmist urges us not to grieve the Lord as the ancient Israelites did when they grumbled against Him. They sought to resolve their conflicting situations on their own terms. ‘Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me’. Heb 3:15. This is such a serious warning. Let us exhort one another daily, ‘as long as it is still called “today”, lest any one of you be hardened’. Heb 3:13.

We’ll now consider the ancient hatred. This is the ‘way of Esau’ who because of his own foolishness, could not take up the portion that God had predetermined for him. Even though he was the firstborn son, the double portion was determined for his younger brother. Esau could not resolve this and was filled with anger. Eventually he fled to a place called Mt Seir. The Scripture accounts that he made this his home, coming and going from this place. It seems that Esau struggled with the extremes of composure and anger.

It is accounted in the book of Hebrews that eventually Esau sought repentance with tears, but he couldn’t find it. His anger had turned to bitterness. It would be an over-simplification to say that God simply refused to forgive Him. Esau had hardened his heart to such a degree that he had become bitter. It was on account of his anger, hardness, and bitterness, that he could find no genuine relief from his torment.

I recall when I was a young man being told, “if you are bitter, it is because you have chosen to be”. Initially, I thought that was a hard statement considering the injustices that come into people's lives. Over the years I have often considered this. And as I reflect on life, I marvel at the depth of adversity that many people go through and yet they retain a sweet spirit. They watch over their hearts. Nevertheless, there are others for whom life has not gone well and their instinctive response is to be become angry and go bitter.

There are many different personal profiles throughout the Scriptures. Let’s consider Ishmael. He is described as a wild ass of a man … his hand will be against everyone, and everyone's hand will be against him’. Gen 16:12. Ishmael was an angry man. Alternatively, let us consider the profile of Reuben, the firstborn son of Jacob. He was ‘Unstable as water’. Gen 49:4. Reuben was complicit with his brothers in the assault upon their young brother Joseph. It appears that he took no stand ‘for or against’ the cruel intent of his brothers. Then after the event, Reuben was traumatized. The personal profile of Simeon and Levi is altogether different. They were ‘cruel men’. Gen 49:5. What is your personal profile? The day of adversity will reveal what kind of person you are.

It is a daily exercise to watch over our hearts and guard our thoughts. Eventually our thoughts will become the motivations and intentions of our heart. We might say ‘our heart is bigger than our head’. Even though your head will say one thing, your heart will say another. Consequently the Scriptures say, ‘Keep your heart with all diligence’. Prov 4:23.

In times of difficulty, we are not necessarily making accurate judgments. We are not necessarily looking at the right things, perhaps not even looking in the right direction. I am reminded of the apostle John in the book of Revelation who heard a voice behind him like a trumpet. Rev 1:10. He looked around and saw one like the ‘son of man’ standing in the midst of seven golden lampstands. It is noteworthy that John heard the voice ‘behind him’. We might surmise that he was looking the wrong way. This last living apostle was on the island of Patmos because of persecutions and afflictions.

When you are in trial and affliction, remember that glory is coming to you, and a door is being opened for you. Remember the words of the apostle Paul when he said, ‘for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries’. 1 Cor 16:9. We must value trial, affliction, persecution and reproach, even though we don’t immediately embrace them. Many enemies, many adversaries, much affliction and much trial all equal an open door. Now that door may not yet be open, but it is coming.

Like John we must slow down and listen for a voice that will cause us to turn. Of course, if we have a stiff neck, it will be difficult to turn. Perhaps you are looking the wrong way, even becoming hard of heart, becoming angry, or stiffening your neck. Later on, we read that John saw an open door. A voice called to him saying, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must occur afterwards.’ Rev 4:1. We can conclude here that John was most certainly looking in the right direction. If we make a proper response to affliction and pressure, then our hearts will be soft and our eyes will be looking the right way.

Perhaps there is an open door in front of you. Will you keep your heart soft? Don’t go the way of Cain and respond in anger. Remember the word of the Lord to him, ‘Why has your countenance fallen? If you do well shall you not be accepted?’ Gen 4:7. Affliction and pressure serve to reposition us, and prepare us for a good future.

‘But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.’ 2Cor 2:14. Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, wherever you're going, He wants to lead you in triumph. I do not mean ‘triumphalism’ or the power of positive thinking. This does not always equate with reality. Our victory in Christ is not the exercise of ‘triumphalism’ as if to conquer reality by our own mental or physical strength. By reason of strength you will not finally add one cubit to your life. Nevertheless, He is always leading us in triumph. And in that triumph, He is manifesting the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Christ in every place. However, if you are hardening your heart becoming angry and bitter, there will be no fragrance of Christ!

The apostle John spoke of our victory in Christ. ‘For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.’ 1 John 5:4. As we pursue genuine Christian victory, we will have to overcome our predispositions, our upbringing, and our world view. For this reason, the apostle Paul said, ‘Be renewed in the spirit of your mind’. Eph 4:23. We need the Holy Spirit to renew all of our mental processes. Our cognitive pathways affecting our thoughts are based on experience and temperament. But they do not necessarily accord with reality. We may be overly optimistic or overly negative. We may be fractured in our trust mechanisms. Many of us read everything against ourselves. However, this is a very self-centered way to live. It is not as if everything that happens in our lives is about us. These responses do not manifest the aroma of Christ.

The apostle Peter said, ‘After you have suffered for a little while the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 1 Pet 5:10. How long is ‘a little while’? It is the increment of time which God Himself measures to us. Even the span of our whole life is finally just a ‘little while’. We have been given seventy years, or by reason of strength, a little longer. The pursuit of life is to joyfully endure ‘momentary light affliction’ to attain an eternal weight of glory. 2 Cor 4:17. If we have ‘done well’ in this respect, then we must continue to do so. The Lord Himself will supply to us an abundant entry into His everlasting kingdom. 2 Pet 1:11. And He will say to us, ‘Well done good and faithful servant ... enter into the joy of your Lord’. Matt 25:21. It is essential therefore, that we keep our heart with all diligence throughout the course of our life.

Author: David Falk | Toowoomba Christian Fellowship TCF
Published by Vision One at Toowoomba Christian Fellowship TCF
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