- Wow. This is deeply convicting for us today! Life changingly so!
Harrod enjoyed listening to John the Baptist. He “went to church”, listened to the sermons, left feeling good (although perplexed because John kept pointing out Harrods sin), and had a good time. Enjoyable.
But Harrod became John’s murderer.
Take care friend, take great care about our reception of the gospel truth. It should not be an “enjoyable” experience unless we have already purged ourselves of all sin. If we still have any sin in our lives, any hidden struggle, any selfish motive… The gospel exposes that with intent to rip it out of our lives. And that is not enjoyable.
So there are two paths here. Harrods path was to enjoy listening while ignoring the reality and holding onto his own sin. He “enjoyed” John’s teaching because his heart was cold and closed. That leaves one perplexed.. and forever sinful.
The other path is perfection or the seeking of perfection. If one is perfect already, there is no conviction within true teaching. But we are not perfect! We all have sins we are dealing with. The open heart, filled with the presence of a Holy God, hates sin. It seeks to rid itself of sin, seeks perfection. And then truth brings conviction.
If our heart is right with God, we will experience conviction that leaves us crushed, not merely perplexed! We fall in tears over our sin, repenting openly when the Holiness of God shines light on our own darkness. That is a sign, the fruit of a converted heart! Willingness to see our sin as sin, and a heartfelt broken repentance, is the result. It is not an enjoyable experience! After, sure, but not during. It hurts to die!
Harrods example here is deep. By not allowing God into his heart, by seeing John’s preaching as entertainment, as enjoyable, by attending church for the entertainment value, Harrod himself became a tool of Satan. Unrepentant sin is an effective tool in Satan’s hands if found within our heart.
Don’t follow Harrod! Let the words of God and the godly reach deep into your heart and dig up that sin, that selfishness, that dark desire, the evil habit. Let God’s power root it out! Let His forgiveness melt it away. Feel the pain of realizing our disappointment of our creator. Seek to be cleansed more every day, to be more like Jesus.
Or become a tool of Satan. The choice is yours.