JC Blog

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” ( Hebrews 11:8-10 )

Faith propels people to do strange things from the viewpoint of the world. I had a friend who left family and friends, moving to Costa Rica to be a missionary because she heard God instruct her to do so. She didn’t have any missionary support when she left, she just knew she was supposed to go. She was heavily criticized by those around her for taking such bold steps without a husband, financial support or long term accommodations. However, in an act a faith, she went. And God, true to His word supplied everything she needed, bringing her into a loving community of missionaries who shared the same vision of ministering to the people of Costa Rica.

Although this seems like an unusual story of faith, it is not unheard of. Abraham experienced the same thing. God came to Abram and told him to leave his country, his people and his father’s household going to a land He would show him. Then God gave Abram a very great promise. “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” ( Genesis 12:2-3 ). At this time Abram was seventy-five years old and without an heir. However, he considered the promise of God and set out in faith to participate. He left seeking the land he would receive as an inheritance knowing that God would also give him a son in the process.

While on this earth, Abraham lived as a stranger in a foreign country in tents. What makes this account amazing is that he was waiting expectantly and confidently for God’s promise to come to pass. Abraham used faith to perceive from a distance what would be instead of looking at his present situation. Verse 10 shines light on this, “For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” ( Hebrews 11:10 ). Abraham could see in faith what God could do if he believed him and obeyed. He chose to disregard the things of this world for the things of God. Looking forward to the city which has fixed and firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God.

Just as in the example from my missionary friend, this type of faith is unusual and makes people uncomfortable. However, the reward is too great to pass on. We must look toward the future in faith with spiritual eyes. Considering that God is always faithful to His promises. Like Abraham we must disregard the things of this world for a chance to follow God’s instructions knowing that God always rewards faith ( Hebrews 11:6 ).

“Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience” ( Hebrews 4:11 )

It takes effort to enter into God’s rest, it takes faith. Resting in God’s grace comes moment by moment, resisting the urge to trust in ourselves. This is a process in which the foundation hinges on God’s character. Unless we lay a good foundation understanding who God is and His will concerning us we will never be able to build and surround ourselves in the rest that God desires for us to experience in Him.

We are warned not to follow the example from Israel’s past. The generation that came out of Egypt distrusted and provoked God. They were disobedient and unbelieving; therefore they never saw the promise of entering into Canaan fulfilled. The entire generation passed away in the desert. We are reminded to make every effort to enter into God’s rest so we will not follow in their example.

God’s main charge against the Israelites was they never understood or knew Him. They did not perceive nor recognize His way and become intimately acquainted with Him. “That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways’” ( Hebrews 3:10 ). They let their preconceived notions about God overrule His demonstration of goodness, love and mercy. Their hearts were dull and hard toward Him and the result was disobedience, not trusting in God choosing rather to complain about everything.

The good news for us is that we can take this example and learn from it. The Israelites were not able to enter into the promised rest because they were not familiar and intimately acquainted with God and His ways, but we can enter and remain by understanding and fellowshipping with God. We can experience rest simply by knowing Him and His promises.

Part of the reason Israel failed in this is because they thought God brought them into the desert to kill them. It is hard to trust and obey someone when you believe they are out to harm you. Unless we understand God’s love for us we will also fall prey to responding as the Israelites did, distrusting God. Instead, we must let the truth of scripture speak and minister to our hearts; bringing enlightenment of His true character and desires concerning us. We can learn to trust Him by knowing these things and progressing in our relationship with Him.

Jesus came to show us God’s true and complete nature ( Hebrews 1:1-2 ). Jesus is the picture of how great God’s love is toward us. He was sent to bring us into a deep and meaningful relationship with the Father. His grace and mercy is poured out on us covering and washing us clean, restoring us to a state as if we had never sinned. This is the foundation of rest.  Starting here will soften our hearts opening them up to receive a revelation of God. We are to strive to enter this rest that was promised and by becoming intimately acquainted with Him and His promises we will continually dwell in this place. Unlike the Israelites who were increasingly hard of heart, we can be just the opposite becoming increasingly sensitive to the Lord’s direction for our lives.

Tomorrow we will look at Hebrews 4:12; The Word of God is Alive and Full of Power.

“Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day” ( Hebrews 4:7-8 )

An important truth to understand when reading the Bible, is that in the New Testament we see the literal and spiritual fulfillment of the events that happened in the Old Testament. This example from Israel’s past in their pursuit into Canaan is something we must pay close attention to because this was a foreshadow of entering into the true promised land of God.

In fact the writer of Hebrews calls to our attention that this passage is not even speaking about entering into Canaan, it is speaking about entering into the rest that David saw and prophesied about in Psalm 95. This rest comes through faith in Christ Jesus. David looked forward to the time of Christ and called us blessed because he saw the righteousness that Christ awards through faith. “David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him” ( Romans 4:6-8 ).

When David saw this, he instructed under the influence of the Holy Spirit not to let hardness of heart numb this amazing truth. He warned against being like Israel during their time in the wilderness; hard and insensitive to God. Rather, when we hear His voice and His offer of life we are to respond in faith accepting the good news of Christ which has the power to save ( Romans 1:16 ).

The writer cites these scriptures from Psalm 95 over and over in Hebrews 3 and 4 emphasizing the importance of the condition of our heart. Israel is the example, but the offer of entering into this rest is still available today. David talked about another day because Joshua didn’t give them the true rest that comes from God. It was a mere shadow of Jesus. As believers we have another opportunity of securing this rest through faith in Christ Jesus. Everyone who believes enters into this rest ( Hebrews 4:3 ). Thankfully this offer is still available today! The only requirement is faith; faith placed in Jesus. He is the true and complete Sabbath rest that God promises His children.

Tomorrow we will look at Hebrews 4:9-10; True Sabbath Rest Through Christ.

“Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith” ( Hebrews 4:1-2 )

Did you know that faith is the only way to enter into the rest that God offers. This rest is still available today but it remains that some will enter and some will not. The deciding factor is faith. When we choose to believe and solely trust in Jesus then we enter into the rest that God promised His people.

Once again we look back on the Israelites as our example. The writer of Hebrews reveals an amazing truth about them, they also had the gospel preached to them, just as we have but if was of no effect because they did not combine the message with faith. The wonderful thing about the gospel is that it is the power of God. Paul spoke of this very thing in Romans, he said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile” ( Romans 1:16 ). When the gospel is presented the words go into our hearts and release power, the correct response is one of faith. Faith looking toward Jesus for His grace and mercy. Grace plus faith equals salvation ( Ephesians 2:8-9 ). Salvation through Jesus equals entering into the Sabbath rest of God, because Jesus is that rest. This is why the gospel is so powerful.

The Israelites heard the good news message but did not combine it with faith. This caused them to wander the wilderness distrusting and provoking the Lord continually. The message they heard was their deliverance from the bondage in Egypt. God brought them out and wanted to take them into immediate possession of the land He promised Abraham but their disdain for Him blocked any attempts to do this. The root was a heart issue. They did not lean on God in absolute trust and confidence of His power. They had no understanding of His character, nature and goodness toward them. They did not respond in faith and the result was being shut out of the Promised Land because of their unbelief and unwillingness to enter in ( Hebrews 3:19 ).

This lesson from Israel’s past is a foreshadow to our deliverance from the bondage of sin. Jesus has brought us out from under its rule and dominion by His victory on the cross. Sin was defeated once for all. When we hear this good news message the correct response to have is one of faith. Looking to Jesus and putting our entire trust and confidence in His saving grace. This brings us into the rest that Hebrews 4 is talking about. It goes on to say later in the chapter, “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his” ( Hebrews 4:9-10 ). What we rest from is trying to work out our own salvation because Jesus provided this for us. He is the true Sabbath Rest and remaining in Him brings us rest on all sides.

The promise of entering into this rest is still freely offered today. All that is required is faith because Jesus’ part has been completed. We simply respond to the good news message of Jesus. We trust solely in Him and rest in absolute confidence that He will preserve us until the end. When we stop striving in this life is when we truly start to live!

Tomorrow we will look at Hebrews 4:3-6; It Takes Faith to Enter Into Rest.