As the biblical storyline unfolds, we find ourselves remaining in the midst of God’s dealing with His people’s hearts. Before He gives them the promised land, blessing, and abundance, He is ensuring that their hearts are settled in Him. And so, last time, we saw the instruction to remember God’s previous leading. Today, we’re going to see caution of comfort and how it relates to us today.
“Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today; otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”
Deuteronomy 8:11-14
I’ll never forget my high school football days with Midland Lee. We ate, drank, and breathed football. Our workout sets weren’t the normal 10 reps, but 16. The reason was, there were 16 games to play in order to win the cherished state championship title. We didn’t settle for just making playoffs; no, no, we wanted to win the whole thing. Obviously, so did so many other hopeful and aspiring Texas football athletes and fans.
Well, our season started off just like many did that year–one guy went down with a broken arm, we were clunky in our play calling and tackling, and were happy to get the early W’s as they came. As the season continued on, however, our team was unifying and we were really making strides in fundamentals, which led to bigger victories and more wins. The team began to realize that we were actually pretty good, and that our dream of winning a stated title could possibly happen this year. Mind you, though, we were only about 7 games into the season, albeit undefeated at that point.
And then it came. The big head. Our wins began to produce something in the players that it shouldn’t have. We forgot fundamentals, we forgot unity, we got comfortable, and we began to “think” we were entitled to something. We simply forgot–because we were comfortable with our record–and then we got thumbed by Abilene Cooper 21-14 in a Friday Night Light showdown in Shotwell Stadium. Man, you should have seen the tears and the shock after that defeat. We had grown prideful, arrogant, and comfortable, and as a result we were defeated. Fortunately, that wasn’t the final story in our 1998 season, but it was a wake-up call nevertheless.
Finding ultimate comfort and having a forgetful spirit is within every human heart. God knows this, and that’s exactly why He warned the Israelites of old in our passage above not to let themselves get satisfied–ultimately comfortable–and prideful.
What are the results of forgetting that everything you have from God is a gift?
Forgetfulness. Pride. Judgment.
Unfortunately, the heart of God’s people did forget, they were proud, and later judged. It’s the way with all humanity, and that’s exactly Why Christ Had To Die.
How Does This Apply To Us Today?
- Our hearts will always get proud unless God intervenes…
- The sad reality of humanity is that no matter how hard we try, we just can’t keep from settling in to a place of comfort that leads to some sort of pride. Think about it. How often do we take responsibility for our positions at work? Our children’s behavior? Our wonderful marriages? Our pretty smiles? Our nice cars? Our houses and lots? Our land and toys? And on and on…
- We forget that everything we have is a gift. Our hair color, eye color, jobs, spouses, children, dispositions, intellect, and so on. While we have to put in the work–just like turning on a light switch to get light, we don’t create the electricity.
- A new heart is required…
- Because of Christ, we can have a new heart…
- When Christ came–to our world, died in our place–as a substitute for our sin, and rose from the grave–conquering death, He provided a way for new hearts to come to humanity. He inaugurated the New Covenant, which is God’s raising up of a new humanity with new hearts.
How does one have a new heart?
Recognize your need because of sin–repent. Transfer your trust from yourself to be right with God to the person and work of Christ–faith.
Will I ever struggle with pride and forgetfulness again?
Yes. You and I will struggle, but not without hope. Not without the power of God within us. And not without a promise of restoration free of final judgment.
God placed His judgment on Christ, in order that you and I–by receiving Christ in faith–may not be finally judged, but rather forgiven.
Therefore, walk in the newness of life. GLORY! With new hearts, walk in HIM…confessing sin, returning in faith, and humbly remembering all He has done for you. Amen and Amen.
— September 21, 2018