Pro 29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck,
shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
There is a song out, by a country group Rascal Flatts, called "Mayberry". You guessed it, named after the fictional North Carolina town made famous by Sheriff Andy Taylor, Opie and Aunt Bee.
More importantly, the first two verses of the song go like this:
Sometimes it feels like this world is spinning faster
Than it did in the old days
So naturally we have more natural disasters
From the strain of a fast pace
Sunday was the day of rest
Now its one more day for progress
And we can't slow down
Cause more is best
It's all an endless process
It is sad, but true. Our lives have gotten so hectic, chasing after this and that and meeting deadline after deadline.
I have been a truck driver going on 12 years now, and the trucking industry is nothing but deadlines. Everyone needs it yesterday because they put off getting until the last minute.
Now, I am no super trucker, hence to say, I have not met all of my deadlines. As with many occupations, things come up here or there and you just can't make it.
Now why am I talking about all this in relationship to the text above? One word:
DEADLINES!
Now the big wig, corporate figure heads run multi-billion dollar businesses on deadlines.
Did you ever think that God also runs on a deadline?
Lets read this verse again:
Pro 29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck,
shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
It sounds to me like God does have a deadline for every one of us!
The text says, "He, that being often" (more than once) "reproved" (or corrected) "hardeneth his neck.."
God says, in His scripture, there will come a day, after He has tried to correct us for the last time, we "shall suddenly be destroyed, and without remedy" (or, without deliverance).
Lets look at the first part of the text. How does God reprove us? Several ways.
One is through, Spiritual Conviction.
1. Through the Holy Spirit we can be Spiritually Convicted.
2. Through Sickness we can be Spiritually Convicted.
Psa 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
Psa 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
3. Through Sorrows we can be Spiritually Convicted.
4. Through Sweetness we can be Spiritually Convicted.
Psa 52:1 Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.
5. Through Servants we can be Spiritually Convicted.
A Second way God can Reprove us is through, Stubborn Rebellion.
"hardeneth his neck"
1. Procrastination Hardeneth His Neck. (I'll do it later.)
Pro 27:1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Pro 27:1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Look also at Exodus 8, when the plague of frogs came upon the Pharaoh. Pharaoh asked Moses to remove the frogs, and Moses said when and Pharaoh said in Exodus 8:10 "To morrow".
2. Pride Hardeneth His Neck. (I'm not gonna make a fool of myself)
The Devil will sit down with you in the church pew and tell you not to go up front and give your lif over to Christ. He will tell you that you will be embarrassed. Pride will escort you to Hell in chains.
3. Pleasures Of This World will Hardeneth His Neck. (I'd rather love the things I have than the love God)
Don't get wrapped up in the pleasures of this world. God warns us.
2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
The Devil will whisper in your ear, oh you don't want to become a Christian and give up what you have.
There will come a time when you will cross the deadline, and scripture says he shall "suddenly be destroyed".
God is a God of Judgement and Righteousness. Scripture warns us again:
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
God will send "strong delusion" so people "should believe a lie"!!
God spoke to these people over and over again, but they will be damned because they "had pleasure in righteousness.
Man will reject God for the last time, and God will give them up!
This is why we have so many cults, etc. These are people who knew the Truth, but believed not the Truth, often reproved, who has hardeneth is neck and God has sent them strong delusions that they may believe a lie!
People think, oh I can just call on Jesus in due time. I'm sorry to tell you friend, scripture says:
Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:
and I will raise him up at the last day.
No man can come to Jesus, except the Father draw him. How is this done? By the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit draws us to Christ, it is the Holy Spirit that convicts.
The Bible teaches that the time will come when you will so insult God for the last time, by saying no to the Holy Spirit for so many times, that God will give up working in your heart.
Three times in the beginning of Romans, God speaks of giving them up, giving them up and giving them over.
That sudden destruction is a heart beat away.
Don't get the idea the eternity is way off in the future, because with sudden destruction, there is no remedy.
God has spoken to you and me over and over. God has spoken to us even today.
God also says if you continue to harden your neck, you will be destroyed. There are no second chances, there is no remedy.
Why would God reprove you and me?
It is because He loves us.
What if you think that your already crossed the deadline?
If you can still call on the name of the Lord, you haven't crossed the deadline!
Praise God!
Anyone who wants to be saved, can.
If you have no desire to be saved you have already crossed the deadline!
We are all one heart beat away from Heaven, or one heartbeat away from Hell.
Where will you spend eternity?
Scripture says:
Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
After we die, we will be judged.
How will you do in front of the throne of God as he reveals every sin on the "big screen tv" for all to see?
It is not to late, to repent and trust in the Lord Jesus as your Savior. It is because of our sin, our iniquities, that He died on the cross, defeated death, and offers us the free gift of eternal life!
-Jon
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