Isaiah - Verse By Verse | Walking through Ephesians

Walking through Ephesians - Day 84

versebyverse | February 04, 2008 20:10

Thought: To me, our first openness to God is vitally important and crucial to further enlightenment.

Question: Have I "hardened my heart" against God?

Scripture: Ephesians 4:18 (NIV): "They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts."

Here is Paul's description of "futile gentile thinking." It is "dark", lacking "light" which illuminates the understanding. It is "separated from the life of God." This clearly shows death to be a "separation" from God: they are not near "the life of God." The fleshly existance they have is not real living. And don't we see that from time to time in very evil people? They exist like animals rather than living a quality life. This physical existance that never touches or knows God (Who created all life, including their's) is an ignorant life. They are ignorant of Who God is. They do not regard Him as Creator, or rightful owner, or Sovereign Lord, or Master, or King, or anything. Why do they not, when others have? Paul here says they do not know because they have chosen not to know. This is what a "hard heart" is: an initial choice against the instinctive implication that there is a God and that they should be accountable to Him. They immediately resist these ideas: 1) if God is real they choose not to know Him, and, 2) if God is real they do not want to be accountable to Him. These initial mindsets harden the heart, making God's entrance into it even more difficult. A hardened heart is forever getting harder and harder.

Prayer: Oh, Father! Prevent my heart from ever being hardened against understanding You! And for others I know who are considering You, help them to become vulnerable enough to let You "in." Amen.