Life has a way of softening us. Life has a way of hardening us. It can do either.
The same sun that hardens the clay melts the wax.
The warning is given numerous times in Scripture. Do not harden your hearts. The text is found 3 times in Hebrews 3-4.
The heart of the matter is the heart. It all begins in the heart.
Matt 13:15 – For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Matt 15:8 – They draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me
Matt 15:19 – out of the heart proceeds evil thoughts
Matt 18:35 …also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother
It is true. The experiences of life will either harden our hearts or soften us. It is up to us.
Let’s consider both choices.
James and John were called sons of thunder in their early years. This was probably because of a fiery temperament.
James was the 1st apostle to be killed. His brother, John not only lived to see James martyred but he witnessed all of the apostles put to death. Imagine seeing all of these brothers with whom he had shared so much, one by one, killed for their faith. John, alone, was left. Life surely had many difficult experiences for John.
John wrote 5 books of the New Testament. He was likely in his 90’s when he wrote all of them.
Now later in life, he is no longer known as a son of thunder. Now, we know him as the Apostle of love.
What changed? The experiences of life, along with the Spirit of Grace, had softened him.
Let us note a second truth. As he writes the Gospel according to John, he seldom identifies himself.
This is the disciple who, along with his brother, early in the ministry of Jesus, wanted the prominence of sitting beside Jesus on His throne. (Matt 20:20-22)
Luke 9 shares the account of John complaining to Jesus because he saw someone casting out demons in the LORD’S name, but doing so without following “us.” John would become the Apostle of love but he is not there yet. It appears he was concerned about his own prominence.
But here, near the end of his life, we find this aged apostle, the only one left, under the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and his perspective has changed.
Observe the following from the writings of this aged apostle. John rarely identified himself in his writings. Early in life, he may have wanted prominence. Now he wants obscurity. Early on he enjoyed the limelight. Later, he wants the focus on the LORD.
The following verses will bear this out.
John was probably the other disciple in John 1:40.
In John 13:23, the reference is made to the disciple whom Jesus loved.
See John 20: 4, 8. Most assuredly, the other disciple was John.
See John 21: 20-24. This text clears up any doubt that it is he who is identified.
So as we consider John, we see this son of thunder becoming the aged Apostle of love. We see this follower of Jesus, who early on was interested in prominence and yet later in life was an example of humility.
John was a perfect example of one allowing the events of life to soften him.
Briefly, let us consider an example of letting our hearts become hardened.
Read Rom 9:17-18 and consider this question. Did GOD harden Pharaoh’s heart or did Pharaoh choose to become hardened? Circumstances were presented to Pharaoh. He made the choice. He could have submitted. The city of Nineveh submitted and was spared in Jonah’s time. Pharaoh could have submitted.
One’s heart determines how life’s experiences will shape him. GOD knew Pharaoh’s heart and He knew he would not bend to Moses. The point is he could have submitted to GOD and GOD would have used that powerful leader of Egypt to accomplish His purpose. He did not. GOD’S will was not thwarted. It was to be done. Pharaoh’s decision did not prevent GOD’S purpose from being done. It only determined how it would happen.
As life comes at you full force at times, consider your own heart. Will you allow the experiences to soften you or harden you?
Are you a Pharaoh or are you a John?