Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time. Except for the Hivites living in Gibeon, not one city made a treaty of peace with the Israelites, who took them all in battle. For it was the Lord himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses. (Joshua 11:18-20 NIV)
The hardening of hearts by God is curious to me when I first read the verses above. Why would our God do this? But after a bit of time it came to me that this is no different than what we have been studying in Radical. Not directly to untouched or the unspoken to people's of the world but what of those that refuse to listen and accept God, his people and Christ our Lord once they have heard the Word.
Imagine God giving up on you and hardening your heart against Him. He has made the decision that you are cast out of Heaven for you. All of your get out of free jail cards are used and there is no more Grace. Ultimately you have chosen destruction and hell over salvation and heaven.
This is the very answer to why we must stay in a daily prayer practice, walking out our lives Christ-like, and always knowing that as long as we ask Jesus will stand next to us in all we do everyday. There is a hell...don't be the one that God decides to harden your heart thus ultimately placing you there.
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