This is why I speak to them in parables:  “Though seeing , they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.  In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;

you will be ever seeing but never perceiving;

For this people’s heart has become calloused;

they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.  Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.”      Matthew 13:13-15 NIV

You may have heard it said that we are living in the last days.  I heard a pastor say recently, that the last days started when Jesus ascended to heaven after his crucifixion and resurrection.  So of course, we are indeed living in the last days.  The Bible tells us that Jesus will not return until the gospel has been preached everywhere in the world.  In other words, everyone on the planet will have the opportunity to hear the gospel and be saved.  God wants no one left behind.  God wants no one to go to hell.

He is a loving God that wants everyone to have a chance at salvation.  However, since the beginning of time many people have heard the gospel but not taken the time or the effort to really understand it.  Many have seen miracles, but have not understood that that was what was going on.  The saddest part of this scripture is the part that says “For this people’s heart has become calloused,”.   Sadly, we live in a cruel world where people hurt people.  People hurt other people emotionally and physically.  Often times when someone has suffered heartache and pain they become calloused.  They develop a “looking out for number one” attitude.  They believe that if they don’t take care of themselves then who will.  Sound familiar?

If you are that someone who has been hurt and suffered a great deal in your past, then you need to know that there is someone who loves you.  There is someone who will take care of you.  Now many people who have suffered hurt and heartache are angry at God.  We serve a big God and He can handle that.  Let Him know that you are hurt and angry.  He will meet you where you are.  Perhaps, as a result of your hurting, you have lashed out and hurt others.  He will forgive you.  He will show you how to forgive those that have hurt you.

You see, Adam and Eve brought sin into the world.  As a result of the sin, we will suffer and go through hard times.  How we handle this suffering depends greatly on whether we go through hard times alone or with God.  God does not force his love on us.  God sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die a horrible death on the cross so that we may be saved.  However, He does not force us to accept Jesus Christ as our savior.  The choice is ours.  If we draw close to Him then He will be close to us.

This scripture passage clearly tells us that we can turn to Him and be healed.

As someone who has turned to Him and been healed, it saddens me to see those who are lost and suffering.  It saddens me to see those whose hearts are calloused.  It doesn’t have to be this way.  God’s word tells us that we can have a peace that passes all understanding.  In 2010, I made a decision to be committed to following Jesus Christ.  I made a commitment to Him and His work. I committed to stay close to Him through prayer and Bible reading.  Instead of going to church if I felt like it, I committed that church attendance would no longer be optional.  I am in church on Sunday morning and Sunday night and I love it.  I hate to miss.  I go on Wednesday night for that midweek rejuvenation.  It’s like refueling when the tank is running low.  I have been through some heartbreaking times since 2010, but they have not defeated me.  God has been right there with me.  I turned to Him and he healed me and has never left me nor forsaken me.

He wants to do the same for you.  He wants you to turn to Him so that he can heal you.  If you are weary, He can give you rest.  He wants you to be healed and whole.  But most importantly, he wants you to spend eternity in glory with Him.

Please don’t close your eyes and please don’t tune God out.  He is here, He is real, and He loves you.  He will not force you to come to Him, you have to do that on your own.

If you are hurting, turn to Him and surrender to Him.  We don’t like the word surrender because we think it makes us look weak.  Well let me tell you something, you don’t know strength until you tap into the strength that God provides.  Phillipians 4:13 is one of my favorite verses.  It tells us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

You have a choice to make today, you can go on hurting and perhaps hurting others.  You can continue to suffer and be miserable and feel sorry for yourself.  Or you can ask Christ to come into your heart and heal you and make you whole.  It’s all up to you.

My prayer for you today is that you hear and understand and that you see and perceive.  I pray that if your heart has become calloused that you allow God to come into it and soften it.  I pray that today will be the day that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are saved and on your way to heaven to spend eternity with God your father.

If you are hurt and suffering, don’t keep all this pain to yourself, speak to a pastor or christian counselor.  They can guide you and help you establish a good, solid relationship with Jesus Christ.

Have a great weekend!