For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, "AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST," although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4For He has thus said somewhere concerning the seventh day, "AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS"; and again in this passage, "THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST." (Hebrews 4:2-5)
This month we continue our cursory look at the letter to the Hebrews to emphasize its particular relevance to them in their time. As we do so, I hope you are paying attention to how many of these passages we have been taught to interpret in terms of our own times and future. While we may certainly draw applications from all of scripture, we must be careful that interpretations we draw from it are from passages intended to include us (i.e. Christ's prayer in John 17). Let's get started.
You can probably join me in remembering all the hymns we learned as children which spoke of a coming rest: O land of rest for thee I sigh . . . We
'll work, till Jesus comes we'll work ..When all my labors and trials are o'er . . . are just of few of the phrases that pop into my mind as I quickly reflect on this theme. In the business of hectic lives, rest is a wonderful thought! The challenges of living a Christian life in a pagan culture only make thoughts of coming rest more appealing, but is the rest of which scripture speaks rest from the labors of this life?Look carefully at the passage above. The old covenant people had received good news of a coming rest. The rest was one which God instituted on the seventh day of creation. That rest was a cessation of the work He did in relation to creation as we know it - not just the physical aspects of it, but every aspect. Does that mean God no longer does anything? Certainly not. He is eternally superintending all time and space. We can only see a small portion, and that through a pinhole!
Our tendency is to think of rest as being the absence of work. In the physical world that is true but we are dealing with spiritual matters and that is another story! Have you ever considered that Adam inhabited God's rest while he was in the garden? Read the story again. God created Adam outside the Garden and then put him inside (Gen. 2:15). Yet, in the garden he had work to do. To be sure, things were easier when he was in Gods "rest" but he still had work to do.
Israel was required to
"rest" on the seventh day, that is to cease the pursuits of secular life and focus on God. They were called throughout the year to "holy convocations" which were rest from daily life but these were not days of inactivity. In addition to the individual requirements for those days the priests were particularly active at these times fulfilling their ministry before the Lord God. Such was hardly inactivity.In John 6, Jesus calls the disciples away to rest, but read the story and tell me when they ever rested. They feed the 5,000 and clean up after them, then are forced to get into a boat on a stormy night and arrive only to be greeted by throngs of people demanding attention. Did Jesus trick them? When did they rest? They surely must have wondered, and so do we. Jesus was teaching them that rest was to be at peace in His Father's presence. He knew that rest throughout His earthly ministry and He want us to share it.
Are you beginning to see that
"rest" does not mean idleness? Failing to recognize this causes many believers to long for what we already possess. Not that we cease from the necessities of daily life, but that we keep those activities in their proper perspective as part of our ministry before God. We are not our own. As Paul said well, "For me to live is Christ." Unfortunately, Christianity has mostly taught that the promised rest is yet future to us. Longing for what we cannot see, we miss the opportunity to enjoy it. This is just one more way one's understanding of "last things" makes a critical difference.What kept the old covenant people from entering God's rest? The text is clear - unbelief. Now mind you, they did enter the physical land and take possession of it. God did fulfill all the promises He made to them (Joshua 21:45), but they did not enter His rest. It was future to their time, and it was reserved for those who believed. The author is contrasting their time with his present time. Messiah had come and in Him was life and light - in Him was rest. However, they were yet waiting for the final consummation. Their rest was in sight, but it still remained for them to enter it.
6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 He again fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS."8 For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9 There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall through following the same example of disobedience.
The Hebrew writer tells us that God, speaking through David
"fixes a certain day." The literal language here has the idea of putting a border around it. We well might think of it as circling a day on the calendar. It was not penciled in, it was fixed. This verse devastates the position of those who claim Christ came to establish His kingdom, but couldn't because the Jews rejected Him. When God sets a day, it doesn't matter if it is a day from now or a thousand years. To God, a thousand years is as a day concerning His promises. No matter how near or distant they may be, they are certain and God is never late in doing exactly what He says He will do. Do you see the argument the author is making? Though Joshua said God kept all His promises, the people failed to enter rest because of unbelief. If they had entered their rest, David would not have spoken of another to come. But he did and the Hebrews are told that the people of God had not yet entered it.A recurrent theme in the book of Hebrews is faithfulness and this is one of several places readers are encouraged to stay the course and not follow the path of disobedience chosen by their fathers. As we will see, this admonition grows stronger throughout the letter because the finish line is in their view. Now [then] was not the time for carelessness. Diligent attention to the time was needed to not lose sight of the goal!
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need. 5:1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; 2 he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; 3 and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. 4 And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, "THOU ART MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN THEE"; 6 just as He says also in another passage, "THOU ART A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK." 7 In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
That's another big chunk of text and, as hard as it will be, I'll try to keep us on topic. Notice the words which point to the conclusion above: for (vss. 12, 15) since (vs. 14) and therefore (vs. 16). They tell us the author is explaining his admonition to diligence. He observes the word of God has the ability to separate the wheat and chaff, if you will. It doesn't look to things external, as did the Pharisees, it is a spiritual EKG which exposes thoughts and intentions. Doing is important but the why behind the doing is critical. Those who think their efforts merit them a place at the table make an issue of their works. Those who humbly rejoice in God's grace for no personal glory exalt Him alone.
Here again we see Christ as "great high priest who has passed through the heavens" and that is a fact which they are to remember as their confession is challenged by those who would undermine their faith. They are to take comfort in the fact their high priest knows their struggles. Did it ever occur to you that the priests of the old covenant only knew about what it was like to live in the struggle of daily living? They didn't tend the cattle, till the ground or fight the battles. They were set apart from the people and the people were to provide for their needs. On the other hand, the Christ is intimately aware of those struggles because He lived in the midst of them daily. However, having been seated at the right hand of God the faithful are to live lives of confidence before God, knowing that every need will be supplied.
From the time of the Mosaic Covenant forward they had priests, but they were only men subject to the same weaknesses and needs. They became priests as a matter of a natural order which God established. Christ became high priest by another order, the order of Melchizedek, and became "a priest forever." We won't develop that idea because it is outside the scope of the present study. Nevertheless, realize that the priesthood had changed and that itself is a sign of the imminence of the end.
Those first century believers had indeed heard "good news" and if they were not recipients of what was promised we are all miserably deluded to think it will ever transpire. But, God be praised, they did receive the promised rest - the promised heavenly city. Striving under the bondage of the Law has ceased. Our ministry before the Lord is unending. We rejoice that the "sabbath that remaineth" came right on schedule and by faith it is ours to delight in while we continue to labor here.
In The News
Tax Update: Last month I asked you to be in prayer for Larkin and Tessa Rose who have the courage to stand against the governments attempt to steal what belongs to their children. It has been a battle they've fought for all of us and they intentionally entered the arena. Larken's trial resulted in his conviction. Some of you are saying, "He got what he had coming." Of course, you haven't investigated the facts to know why he believes what he does. Like the jury which convicted him, you pass judgment on him without so much as considering the evidence he has, or investigating it for yourselves.
That's right, as is the norm for these cases, Larken was not allowed to present his evidence from the tax code to the jury. For all practical purposes, the judge essentially ruled summarily by the instructions he gave to the jury. If you are ever serving on a jury know this, you have a duty to rule on the law and the facts of the case, regardless of the judges instructions. We need jurors who are willing to stand in contempt of court if necessary to be sure the "
law" is just.Tessa's trial is scheduled for October and Larken is preparing for an appeal. If you would like to help them with their expenses log on to www.861.info and click on the link "YOU CAN HELP" at the bottom of the page to donate to the effort. Although there is excellent tax information on this site, I am not endorsing this method to deal with the tax issue. Nevertheless, it is information you should consider.
Corridor Watch: Perhaps you've heard talk in your state about the construction of corridors for travel, commercial traffic, utilities, high speed rail, etc. No? Well, it's a big issue in Texas and these aren't roads to nowhere!
What's afoot is the construction of behemoth right-of-ways that will condemn millions of acres of land. The proposed corridors for Texas are 1,200 feet wide. Most Interstate highway right-of-ways are 300-400 feet and some are smaller than that. We're talking huge projects with huge price tags. The idea is to link Mexico to Canada so that rapid transport lanes can be opened from the cheap labor across the border to the heartland of America and beyond. This is an on-ramp for illegal immigration, black market goods, illegal drugs, and worse.
The project is expected to take 50 years to complete and billions of dollars - your dollars. If you don't like the idea, let your representative know - real soon.
Citizenship
Where is your citizenship? Of course, as Christians our citizenship is in the kingdom of heaven, but what is your earthly citizenship? I want to challenge your thinking by suggesting that you are, most likely, not a U.S. citizen. Some of you are already thinking I've finally lost the last bit of sense I had, but I ask you to hear me out and then do your homework. Find a copy of what we commonly call "The Declaration of Independence" - not just the words, a copy. Read the caption at the top, "The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America. Pay careful attention to that lower case "u
in united - it speaks volumes!Our federal union was created by "free, independent, sovereign States." It has limited jurisdiction as is spelled out in our Constitution (law). In addition to the limited power granted to the federal government, it is charged with governing Washington, D.C., federal lands voluntarily ceded to it by the states for constitutional purposes, and U.S. territories. Those lands comprise a corporate entity known as the United States. Laws made for the U.S. cannot be legitimately applied to the united States. It is more than a little convenient that these separate entities with differing authority and jurisdictions share names that sound the same, and that Congress legislates for both.
When they pass laws for the U.S., can you see how easy it is to persuade folks in u.S. to believe those rules apply to them? If you're wondering what happened to the America our founders gave us, you now have a clue where to look for an answer. I'll be interested in knowing where your pursuit of the answer takes you. I'm still exploring.
Book Review
One of my favorite stories in scripture is the road to Emmaus. It came alive for me over 30 years ago as I was preparing for a communion meditation. Now, decades later, another element of the story has been opened for me that makes the picture all the more glorious. I just finished reading The Challenge of Jesus by N. T. Wright. In my stack of "to read" books are several of his works. Fortunately, I chose to start with the smallest of the bunch. From what I read, I surmise this volume is really something of an introduction to his other works.
Wright is engaged in an arena most Christians wouldn't enter even if they were aware of it. I remember back in the 1980's a friend gave me a book with a title something like "The Quest for the Historical Jesus." I expressed my appreciation and promptly put it on the shelf. It is embarrassing to admit but I'm not sure where it is today.- I never read it - all I needed to know about Jesus was in the Bible and I couldn't be bothered with what history says. Who has time for such discussions which liberals only use in an attempt to undermine Christ's divinity?
Over the years my thick skull has been penetrated by the relentless pressure of the Holy Spirit compelling me to grow up, and Wright's message is yet another call to pay attention. Though I can't agree with all his conclusions, I find much which resonates with what I believe God would have us understand. Because Wright stands between those see no value in understanding the historical Jesus and those who want to twist Him to do their bidding, he takes a lot of heat from both sides. If you've been in such a position, you know what that is like.
If we are to be the embodiment of Jesus' presence on earth, understanding who He was and is, and how He lived among men is critical to our mission. History speaks to that mission in valid ways and it would be a shame to miss those lessons out of fear of what Godless men do with the knowledge. I highly recommend the book. It is easy reading which will challenge you to stretch your thinking. What did I find out about the road to Emmaus? Read the book!
The Fourth Question
We started a study of the Jewish feasts recently with some friends. It has been quite awhile since I went through the material and having adopted the view of covenant eschatology has dramatically reshaped my understanding of "the Lord's appointed times." There is way too much to address in this venue but I will share one thing which I discovered as I was preparing a few weeks ago.
In the celebration of the Seder at Passover, there is a tradition where the father is asked "the four questions" by the youngest child able to articulate them. From the time I first learned about the celebration of the feasts, I've heard that the fourth question is, "Why do we recline at the table tonight when on other nights we sit or recline?" The answer has to do with the fact they are free from bondage and now rest. That has always seemed appropriate to me since the Hebrews came out of Egypt and their servitude came to an end. However, as I recently discovered, that was not the original fourth question. The fourth question was, "Why do we roast our meat on this night when on other nights we boil it?"
That discovery was an "Aha!" moment because I learned the fourth question changed following the fall of Jerusalem. You must see the significance of this! When biblical Judaism died in A.D. 70, Jews still clinging to the old covenant order lost the temple and the ability to make sacrifices. They have no means of salvation outside of Christ yet they cling to tradition. Though they have a shank bone of a lamb on the table, there is no roasted meat which might hint of a temple sacrifice. They lost everything but a false hope of Messiah's future coming. How in the world is it possible they replaced the fourth question with one which speaks of a sabbath rest while they consider themselves yet exiled (orthodox Jews - not Zionists)?
How incredible is it that, at the very time believers in the Lord Jesus were entering their rest, those who rejected Messiah began attesting to the event in their observance of Passover?!!! It is as though God was putting up a foot stone at the grave of the old covenant program. Perhaps He will grant us the opportunity to show others how it is really a milestone in the path that leads to life and rest.
The Apprentice's Journal
Summer is quickly passing and the August heat makes me long for a cool, crisp autumn morning. I don't know if it's the heat, my advancing age or a number of other factors, but it is frustrating not to be able to accomplish all the things I did when younger. Perhaps that is God's way of narrowing the focus of my life for the years that remain; so I'll do my best to accept it with grace and trust He knows what He is doing.
One little wren has returned to roost under the front porch and that is always a sure sign fall is near. I'm not sure where she sleeps through the summer months or why the porch is more appealing in winter. I suppose it may have something to do with the trees dropping their leaves and exposing such roosts to the neighborhood cats. Anyway, I'm pleased she feels safe here. Because of Christ we know the blessing of resting in safety and security. While it doesn't mean we are insulated from physical trials or harm, it does mean that absolutely nothing can touch us in our relationship with God. Regardless of what happens in our earthly cocoons, what lies ahead for each of us is glorious.
That should empower us and give us courage to live faithfully "redeeming the time wisely" as stewards of inexpressible grace and mercy. It causes us to ask that really important question regularly, "Am I doing the most important thing for me to be doing at this moment?" If not, there is room for improvement. Real joy in this life comes from living in the moment, yet it is so easy to put things on cruise control and just let the days come and go without making the effort to consider where we are on God's timetable.
I readily admit that much of my own life has been lived that way, but I'm quick to add that the most satisfying times are those when I am deeply aware of being on the right page at the right time as God works His will in my life. I wish that was always the case but indeed it is not. Nevertheless, it brings me considerable joy to realize that in recent years the presence of a sense of purpose and calling has become more of a reality.
It is a joy to embrace each new day with a desire to walk more closely with our Lord. With full knowledge of our human frailties, we know we will mess it up on occasion and yet we can live boldly and confidently in the knowledge God will use even our failings to accomplish His purposes for our benefit and His glory. I pray that more and more we will find the fledgling faith of Peter and get out of the boat, fixing our eyes on Jesus.
Sharon and I are embarking on a new venture which we believe will serve us well in the years to come. We've been looking for something we could do together for several years now and we share our decision with you because you may be looking for something similar or might be in need of the services we're offering. Eventually, I hope to touch base with each of you, but you may want to act more quickly.
Identity theft is in the news almost daily now. It has hit two members of our family within the past year. I can tell you it can be a pain to clean up the mess and restore your credit and good name. A few months ago, a friend told me about insurance which not only watches your credit report but immediately goes to work to do the restoration for you if your identity is stolen.
For a few dollars each month, you can be prepared if your personal information is compromised. The protection is available as a stand alone product or part of a complete legal package - either way it is a real value. If you want to know more now, give me a call or visit my website on the Internet. Till next time ~ Jim