So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ” See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Deception is sly and gradual in its method to corrupt or change behavior. It promises well and delivers on those promises poorly. It entices and entraps souls into sin.

As I look at our world and churches, so many have fallen captive to deception in the areas of creation, marriage and intimacy, birth-based, scientific gender, pornography, cheating, gossip, theft, anger and rage, violent acts, etc. They may not murder, steal, or cheat with another person on their spouse, but they go part way. And in going part way into sin, they sacrifice the purity of their faith and the strength of their relationship with God.

See how God warns the Church of Laodicea in Revelation through his mouthpiece John: “I know  ……. your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” (‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬-‭18‬)

What are the riches I am seeking? How can I gain “gold refined by fire”? It is only through being honest about sin, uncompromising on the truth, and a servant of the Most High God to others. We are to call out our sin and seek God’s righteousness. Never compromise, never be satisfied with “good enough” in our faith.

Lord, help me to learn from those Jews who roamed the desert and not reject your truth and refining fire. Instead I desire to embrace your process to purify my heart. I love you!