Boaz—Malaysia

Editor's note: In God's Word and I (Part 1), Manna 97, we explored the close relationship between God's word and the human spirit, and how we should regularly examine our spiritual health according to biblical benchmarks. We can only recognize our spiritual infirmities and be healed through God's word. In the concluding article of this series, we take a closer look at how we should respond to God's word and engage with its transforming power.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF RESISTING GOD'S WORD

The Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, wrote: "Heaven's net is vast and expansive; though it is wide, nothing can escape it." It encapsulates his observation of cosmic justice—evildoers may evade punishment for a time, but their crimes will eventually catch up with them.

As Christians, we understand that our evil deeds will not only have consequences in this life, but also beyond. So, it is important for us to know, from God's perspective, what is evil and how to avoid committing it.

         "This evil people, who refuse to hear My words, who follow the dictates of their hearts, and walk after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be just like this sash which is profitable for nothing." (Jer 13:10)

Those who commit evil are the ones who refuse to hear God's word; they do not know God (1 Sam 2:12). They are ignorant of His laws and do not obey His commandments. Not only that, but anyone who stumbles in one point of God's law is guilty of all (Jas 2:10).

In society, one who violates the law may avoid prosecution for their crime. But who can escape God's judgment (Jer 19:15)? We cannot flee from God's Spirit or His presence (Ps 139:7). Even though God is gracious, we should not take His grace for granted:

         Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God. (Rom 2:4–5)

God's judgment may not be immediate, which gives the disobedient time to change. But His forbearance is meant to be an opportunity for repentance, not an invitation to continue in sin. God sees all that man does, and He will judge.

God has two ways of dealing with those who do not obey His word:

1. Correction (Heb 12:6–7)

The Lord may allow us to suffer as a form of discipline, prompting reflection and awakening so that we can turn from sin towards Him. The example of a father correcting his child illustrates God's loving intention—while no chastisement is joyful, it brings great benefits afterwards.

2. Giving Them Over To Their Sinful Desires (Rom 1:24)

It may seem good to be unrestrained and free from consequences; however, Psalm 73 offers another perspective. The wicked may appear to prosper, but God has set them in slippery places (Ps 73:3–5, 18–19). A smooth life does not offer opportunities to reflect on or recognize our faults, while misfortune prompts contemplation and change. The example of the prodigal son coming to his senses after a period of suffering best demonstrates this. If his life had been smooth sailing, would he have returned home to his father? Hence, some prisoners serving time reform their ways and are rehabilitated while in prison.

In the Exodus account, God gave Pharaoh over to his sin and hardened his heart (Ex 11:9–10). Pharaoh stubbornly refused to heed Moses' warnings, from the first plague to the last, stirring God's wrath. The tenth plague brought the death of the Egyptian firstborn.

Like Pharaoh, if a person continually refuses to heed or obey God's voice, the disobedience will eventually bring judgment and the loss of eternal life (Mt 7:21).

GOD HELPS US TO KEEP HIS WORD

The widow of Zarephath was on the brink of despair as she prepared a final meal for her son and herself (1 Kgs 17:10–16). Understandably, she had reservations when Elijah requested food. But with the prophet's reassurances and the Lord's promise, she obeyed Elijah's instructions. Whether or not she shared with the prophet, she would still face starvation—with little to lose, she gave it a try. And because she heeded God's command to support Elijah, not only did God sustain them with flour and oil, but God also later resurrected her son.  

From this perspective, obeying God's word is a wise decision. It has a low barrier to entry—in the case of the widow, she fed Elijah having already heard God's promise of providence, unlike Abraham offering Isaac without advance knowledge of God's plan. Since we know God's promises, we can "give it a try," according to our faith, and the Lord's abundant grace is guaranteed. God never goes back on His promises.

We see that God blesses those who are determined to obey His word, even if they struggle with motivation or complete faith. But He goes beyond rewards and punishments to help us keep His word. He also transforms our hearts to enable us to obey:

         "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statues, and you will keep My judgments and do them." (Ezek 36:26–27)

Through the Holy Spirit, God changes hardened hearts of stone—stubborn and rebellious—into hearts of flesh. Hearts of stone will not obey or be moved by God's word. In contrast, a heart of flesh is of blood and emotions. Such a heart can be touched and transformed by the word of God; it is sensitive to rebuke (Acts 2:37). God's word produces a heart of repentance from sin. Not only is such remorse accepted by God (Ps 51:17), but it can revive the soul. For the Corinthians who were rebuked by Paul's stern letter, godly sorrow led to repentance, according to God's will, and their faith prospered (2 Cor 7:9–11).

MAINTAIN AN OBEDIENT AND SOFT HEART TOWARD GOD'S WORD

         "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." (Jer 31:33)

The Ten Commandments were written on two stone tablets by the finger of God. The stone tablets represent the heart of Israel. Despite Moses' admonition, the people's hearts remained hardened as they repeatedly rejected God's commandments. The tablets of the law were stored in the ark, where no ordinary person could approach, symbolizing that the people's hearts could not accept and contain the law of God.

         Sow for yourselves righteousness;
Reap in mercy;
Break up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the Lord,
Till He comes and rains righteousness on you. (Hos 10:12)

In ancient agriculture, hardened soil was tilled and watered before seeds were sown. This preparation was essential for the seed to sprout and take root. The parable of the sower uses the analogy of different soils to represent how different hearts receive the seed of God's word (Mt 13:1–9). Whether these seeds yield a good crop depends on the condition of the heart.

In the days of revival, God will give His people a new spirit and a new heart, capable of keeping His law from within (Ezek 36:26–27; Rom 8:4). Paul describes such a heart as soft tablets of flesh, in contrast to tablets of stone, on which God's word can be written by the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 3:3).

So, how do we ensure that our hearts remain soft, like the fertile good ground? It depends on the listener's heart and attitude.

A Humble Heart

         Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (Jas 1:21)

Elder James reminds us that we need to receive and accept the word of God, which leads to salvation. We can only do so if we first humble and sanctify ourselves before God. Without humility, we become desensitized to how God's word teaches and guides us. Humbly accepting God's word means putting it into practice, rather than using our accomplishments and good deeds to justify our imperfections and shortcomings. Humility enables us to understand what more we can learn from God's word to implement in our lives. As we worship the Lord through listening to sermons and Bible reading, our hearts will be attuned to the things we must change. This process of edification will further motivate us to hear, read, and meditate on the word of God.

Live According to the Spirit

         For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (Rom 8:5)

In his epistle to the Romans, Paul explains that to become inclined towards the things of the Spirit, one cannot be carnally minded or live a life focused on indulging fleshly desires. Paul reminds all believers that a healthy life, for both body and spirit, is aligned with the things of the Spirit. In other words, such a life submits to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit stirs up the heart and ears of man. And a humble man who submits to the Holy Spirit will hear, understand, and live out the word of God.

Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

         "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled." (Mt 5:6)

While on earth, Jesus endured extended periods of hunger and thirst, including a forty-day-and-night fast. When tempted by Satan to make bread from stones, Jesus kept His physical urges in check. His heart and desire were unshakeably rooted in the word of God. Jesus is not a God who does not understand our weaknesses; He has experienced and overcome all temptations common to man (Heb 4:15–16).

Our physical body has a constant urge to satisfy its various needs and desires. Failure to control these urges may cause us to neglect the matters of the spirit and soul. Despite limitations of the flesh, Jesus was able to set aside His physical needs in service to spiritual growth. Likewise, we should restrain our physical desires and instead hunger for righteousness through the word and Spirit of God.

HOW THE WORD CAN EFFECTIVELY WORK IN AND PERFECT US

         But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (Jas 1:22–25)

This passage tells us that faith is like a catalyst in a chemical reaction when it comes to living out God's word. Faith leads to action. Thus, our experience of God's word should not languish in theoretical knowledge but be practically applied in our daily life. When we practice the truth, our lives will be filled with blessings from the word of God, because they are spirit and life (Jn 6:63). These experiences will deepen our conviction and lead to renewal through the living word of God (1 Pet 1:23).

Like someone unaware of his unkempt appearance, we may be unwittingly carrying spiritually unhealthy habits and ideas. It is only when we look into the mirror of God's word that we spot these blemishes. But recognizing these issues is not enough—we must reflect and apply God's word to our lives to address these blemishes.

God's word shows us the way to turn our lives around. All we must do is humbly accept its teachings and submit to the Holy Spirit's guidance. In doing so, we attend to the needs of our spirit and soul, returning to full spiritual health. On the last day, we will be acceptable in the eyes of our heavenly Father.