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Heb_3:7. The Solemn Caution
"To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts."—Heb_3:7
The history of the Jews is replete with instruction. We cannot review it without learning three solemn lessons. The deep depravity of the human heart; for how they murmured and sinned against God, when he was making both heaven and earth subservient to their well-being! We perceive, also, how great is the divine compassion! how slow God is to anger! how extensive in mercy! how patient and long-suffering towards his erring people! We learn from their history, that impenitent and incorrigible sinners will not finally be allowed to escape; that, if his grace be despised, and his mercy perseveringly rejected, he will in nowise spare the guilty. How many thousands of ancient Israel verified this momentous truth! and the apostle, referring to the punishment inflicted upon them, draws from it the solemn caution of the text: "To-day, if ye will hear his voice," &c. Let us consider,
I. The Voice referred to.
"His voice."
By reading the fifth and sixth verses, we shall perceive that the voice referred to is the voice of Christ. And as such,
1. It is the voice of mercy.
Grace was poured into his lips. He came not to condemn, but to save the world. He appeared not on the black and terrible mount to curse; but on the mount of light and brightness, to bless the people. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me," &c.; Luk_4:18. He had compassion on the people, and opened his heart and his arms to receive them. "All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven," &c. "I am come that ye might have life, and have it more abundantly."
2. It was the voice of divine authority.
He was the Sent and Anointed of God, and was invested with all power and authority. To despise the words of Moses was to stand exposed to the divine displeasure; of how much sorer punishment are they then worthy, who despise the voice of the only-begotten Son of God! His words will be the savor of life or the savor of death, to every child of man He is not only a Saviour, but he is King of kings, and Lord of lords.
3. It is the only voice directly connected with the sinner's salvation.
None can give rest to the weary but Christ. None can invite to the supper but Christ. None can speak away the guilt of the sinner but Christ. None can give peace to the distracted soul but Christ. None can pronounce the blessed reward, and give eternal life, but Christ. No name given among men, by which we can be saved, but Christ's.
4. This voice addresses us through various mediums of communication.
It addresses us through the medium of the written word, for the Scriptures testify of Christ. The word is emphatically the word of Christ. It addresses us in the proclamation of the Gospel; his servants preach Christ. It addresses us by the influences of the Spirit; for the work of the Spirit is to take of the things of Christ, and reveal them unto us. It speaks to us in the events of providence; for all these are under the immediate control of Christ. For by him are all things, and for him are all things, &c.
Let us notice, then,
II. The Attention demanded.
That is, we are to hear his voice. And it is implied,
1. That we hear so as to understand it.
That we apprehend the sense and meaning of Christ's addresses. The eunuch did not know whether the prophet testified of himself or of some other man; Act_8:34. We cannot possibly be benefited by what we do not understand.
2. We must hear so as to believe it.
To receive it as truth—as the truth of God—as the truth of God to us—as truth in which we are deeply and eternally interested—as the truth of salvation; and as such, it must have our cordial approbation and our hearty credence our implicit trust and reliance. "He that believeth shall be saved," &c.
3 We must hear so as to obey it This will be the evidence of our faith. His words must abide in us; be seen in our spirit, temper, and conversation. We must forsake the evils of the world, come out of it, take up the cross, deny ourselves, and follow Christ.
Observe,
III. The Specified Period for Hearing Christ's Voice.
"To-day, if ye will hear his voice."
The gospel dispensation is represented as a day; and during the whole of this Christ's voice may be heard. But in addressing men individually, it behooves us to refer them to the limited period of human existence, as this is their only day of opportunity and grace. And hence, the season for hearing Christ's voice is,
1. Short.
Only a day! How soon it will terminate! How much to be performed within its narrow limits! A title and meetness for life eternal to be attained! Our generation work fulfilled! The period is,
2. Uncertain as well as short.
Days are dissimilar in length. Antediluvians had a long day. Patriarchs much longer than us. Ours very contracted; and yet liable to be more so, by disease and accidents. Of many it may be said: "Their sun goeth down while it is yet day." This day is,
3. Succeeded by the darkness and stillness of the grave.
No device nor work there—no gospel there—no voice of mercy—no exhortation—no promise given to the dead. Therefore, how necessary that, while it is day, we hear the voice of the Son of God, and live! Notice,
IV. The important Caution annexed.
"To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts."
We must regard the caution, and harden not our hearts,
1. By inattention to the concerns of our souls The natural tendency of the heart is hardness; if we neglect it, keep it from the softening influences of the word, Spirit, and blood of Christ, it will become callous, heedless, and hardened. Israel did not know, and would not consider. Jehovah says by Moses: "O that they were wise," &c.
We must not harden our hearts,
2. By pursuing the works of darkness.
These all harden the heart. It is the necessary consequence of sin to steel the mind, to blunt the feelings, and to pervert the faculties of the soul.
We must not harden our hearts,
3. By yielding to the influences of unbelief.
Unbelief darkens the mind and petrifies the heart. It resists all evidence, and stays the wonder-working arm of the Son of God. "For he could not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief."
We must not harden our hearts,
4. By a sordid attachment to the present world.
Love of the world necessarily leads to hardness of heart in reference to the things of God and eternity. It keeps the soul from Christ and salvation. It concentrates all the powers of the mind in pursuit of the good things of this perishing world, and loses sight of heaven and the crown of glory which God has prepared for all who love him.
Application
(1) You are all responsible, for the voice of Christ has repeatedly sounded in your ears.
(2) You have all your day—a period given for the improvement of your privileges and mercies.
(3) How necessary, then, to hear his voice! How important that you harden not your hearts!
(4) Let our influence be laid out in bringing the ignorant and perishing of our race to hear the joyful sound, that the may not perish for lack of knowledge.
(5) Let us be watching, and preparing for the second advent of the Saviour, when they that are in their graves shall hear his voice and live.