The Human Heart
Pastor Chuck Lindsey
“Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?’” Revelation 6:15-17
The hardness of a human heart is astonishing! This thing that is supposed to be soft and tender, is often as hard as solid rock. A tender heart is synonymous in Scripture with humility, teachability, love, and submission to God. Whereas, the hard heart is always a picture of rebellion and hatred towards God, His ways, His Word, and His people.
The extreme hardness of the human heart is on display in the worst event the world will ever see. The Great Tribulation, a name which means that it is like no other time of trouble the world has ever experienced, will be a time of unimaginable difficulty and suffering. Yet, in that difficulty, suffering, and trouble, man will harden his heart and refuse to relent and turn to the True and Living God.
This is vividly and tragically on display in the words of Revelation 6:15 (NKJV), “And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains.” Something happens and mankind seeks to hide. So what happened? Well, verse 14 tells us (get this) that the veil of the sky or heaven has been pulled back so that the people of the Earth can see the face of the Lord who is against them! (Read that again!) Verse 14 (NKJV) says, “Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.” Immediately following this, man tries to hide from the face of God! They collectively say (verse 16 NKJV) “to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!’” This is beyond belief! Rather than turning to the Creator in repentance and worship, they turn to created things (mountains and rocks) to kill them! They can see the face of the Lord and His throne, and yet, they harden their hearts towards Him and choose to die rather than bow the knee in worship. No stone has ever been so hard!
Now, lest you and I misunderstand what God is doing in all of this, chapter 14 tells us that while all of this (judgment and suffering) is going on an “angel [is] flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on earth - to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people - saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water’” (Revelation 14:6-7 NKJV). Amazingly, God is still trying to save people! He sends an angel to preach the Gospel throughout the whole earth telling them to turn to God and repent. Some will, but most will not.
The Great Tribulation proves both the love of God and that sinful man will not relent under any circumstances and deserves the judgment of God against him.
Pastor Chuck Lindsey
“Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?’” Revelation 6:15-17
The hardness of a human heart is astonishing! This thing that is supposed to be soft and tender, is often as hard as solid rock. A tender heart is synonymous in Scripture with humility, teachability, love, and submission to God. Whereas, the hard heart is always a picture of rebellion and hatred towards God, His ways, His Word, and His people.
The extreme hardness of the human heart is on display in the worst event the world will ever see. The Great Tribulation, a name which means that it is like no other time of trouble the world has ever experienced, will be a time of unimaginable difficulty and suffering. Yet, in that difficulty, suffering, and trouble, man will harden his heart and refuse to relent and turn to the True and Living God.
This is vividly and tragically on display in the words of Revelation 6:15 (NKJV), “And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains.” Something happens and mankind seeks to hide. So what happened? Well, verse 14 tells us (get this) that the veil of the sky or heaven has been pulled back so that the people of the Earth can see the face of the Lord who is against them! (Read that again!) Verse 14 (NKJV) says, “Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.” Immediately following this, man tries to hide from the face of God! They collectively say (verse 16 NKJV) “to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!’” This is beyond belief! Rather than turning to the Creator in repentance and worship, they turn to created things (mountains and rocks) to kill them! They can see the face of the Lord and His throne, and yet, they harden their hearts towards Him and choose to die rather than bow the knee in worship. No stone has ever been so hard!
Now, lest you and I misunderstand what God is doing in all of this, chapter 14 tells us that while all of this (judgment and suffering) is going on an “angel [is] flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on earth - to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people - saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water’” (Revelation 14:6-7 NKJV). Amazingly, God is still trying to save people! He sends an angel to preach the Gospel throughout the whole earth telling them to turn to God and repent. Some will, but most will not.
The Great Tribulation proves both the love of God and that sinful man will not relent under any circumstances and deserves the judgment of God against him.
Posted in Revelation
Recent
Archive
2023
January
Reach • Devotion 1Reach • Devotion 2Reach • Devotion 3Reach • Devotion 4Reach • Devotion 5Reach • Devotion 6Gather • Devotion 1Gather • Devotion 2Gather • Devotion 3Gather • Devotion 4Gather • Devotion 5Gather • Devotion 6Grow • Devotion 1Grow • Devotion 2Grow • Devotion 3Grow • Devotion 4Grow • Devotion 5Grow • Devotion 6Giving • Devotion 1Giving • Devotion 2Giving • Devotion 3Giving • Devotion 4Giving • Devotion 5Giving • Devotion 6Galatians 1Galatians 2
February
Galatians 3Galatians 4Galatians 5Galatians 6God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 1God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 2God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 3God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 4God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 5God’s Design in Marriage • Devotion 6Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 1Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 2Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 3Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 4Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 5Sex: The Word vs. the World • Devotion 6Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 1Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 2Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 3Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 4Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 5Dangers: Little Foxes • Devotion 6Delights • Devotion 1Delights • Devotion 2
March
Delights • Devotion 3Delights • Devotion 4Delights • Devotion 5Delights • Devotion 6Final Class • Devotion 1Final Class • Devotion 2Final Class • Devotion 3Final Class • Devotion 4Final Class • Devotion 5Final Class • Devotion 6A Place for You • Devotion 1A Place for You • Devotion 2A Place for You • Devotion 3A Place for You • Devotion 4A Place for You • Devotion 5A Place for You • Devotion 6The Helper • Devotion 1The Helper • Devotion 2The Helper • Devotion 3The Helper • Devotion 4The Helper • Devotion 5The Helper • Devotion 6True Vine • Devotion 1True Vine • Devotion 2True Vine • Devotion 3True Vine • Devotion 4True Vine • Devotion 5
April
True Vine • Devotion 6The World • Devotion 1The World • Devotion 2The World • Devotion 3The World • Devotion 4The World • Devotion 5The World • Devotion 6Peace • Devotion 1Peace • Devotion 2Peace • Devotion 3Peace • Devotion 4Peace • Devotion 5Peace • Devotion 6Focus on Jesus • Devotion 1Focus on Jesus • Devotion 2Focus on Jesus • Devotion 3Focus on Jesus • Devotion 4Focus on Jesus • Devotion 5Focus on Jesus • Devotion 6The Church at Ephesus • Devotion 1The Church at Ephesus • Devotion 2The Church at Ephesus • Devotion 3The Church at Ephesus • Devotion 4
Categories
Tags
no tags