today
by Jeff Olson

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Hebrews 3:7-15
You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God (Hebrews 3:13).

The film Dead Poets Society introduced me to an old phrase from a Latin poem: carpe diem. It means “seize the day,” an urgent call to live life to the fullest, getting the most out of each and every day. Generally speaking, it’s good advice, especially for those of us who to tend to live passively and watch life pass us by.

The writer of the New Testament book of Hebrews also focused on the urgency of “today” (Hebrews 3:7-15). Drawing on that tragic time in Israel’s history when its people fell into decades of unbelief and rebellion in the wilderness, he impressed upon his Christian readers a sense of the urgent when it came to their walk with God. In light of what happened to the Israelites in the Sinai desert, the writer of Hebrews exhorted his readers to be careful not to make the same mistake and to warn each other while it is still “today” (Hebrews 3:13).

Like the Israelites, Christians can let sinful unbelief linger in their hearts. Left unchecked, it will eventually harden them toward God. While it’s still “today,” while there’s still opportunity, that is, Christians can spot unconstrained unbelief in themselves or others and do the right thing. Genuinely concerned Christians can offer others the kindness of their involvement and can present loving, truthful feedback that will sound the alarm about the perils of sin’s deceitfulness.

The writer of Hebrews is not encouraging Christians to meddle. He is, however, encouraging us to first “listen” to what God’s Spirit is telling us about any unbelief lying around in our own hearts (Hebrews 3:7). And he’s calling us to be involved in each other’s lives so that we can caution a fellow Christian whose heart is in danger of becoming hardened towards God.

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