ODJ: the way of rest
December 30, 2009
[Christ Jesus] broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News (2 Timothy 1:10).
READ: Hebrews 3:7-4:7
Train stations in Japan often list stops in both Kanji and English. This one did not. The longer I stared at the sign, the more it mocked me.
Finally, I asked the woman standing next to me: “Do you speak English?” “A little,” she said. She understood where I wanted to go and motioned for me to follow her. We got on a train, and she drew a map with the stops listed in English and Japanese. Then she took me to the correct line for my transfer. She didn’t just tell me the way; she showed me the way.
When God brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, He didn’t merely tell them which way to go; He showed them the way with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:20-22). The people, however, repeatedly refused to trust their Provider-God. They hardened their hearts and rebelled against Him (v.8; Psalm 95:7-8). The consequences were disastrous. Their “corpses lay in the wilderness,” said the writer of Hebrews (3:17).
Today, God shows us the way through the guidance of His Word and the illumination of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17). Yet we too can stubbornly ignore His step-by-step guidance. That’s why Hebrews says of those disbelieving Israelites, “Because of their unbelief they were not able to enter His rest” (3:19). Then the author draws a clear distinction: “They didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God. For only we who believe can enter His rest” (4:2-3).
Not finding the right train route is a mere inconvenience. Knowing our ultimate destination in life and yet refusing to follow it is a mistake with eternal consequences. The question to ask ourselves is this: Are we among those who believe? —Tim Gustafson
Disobedience, worry, and ingratitude are indicators that you’re not believing in God. In what ways does your life show that you believe in Him? Do you see patterns of unbelief?
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Without faith, it is impossible to please God. In fact, Habakkuk 2:4 states that the righteous shall live by faith. When we come to God, we need to have the faith to trust that He hears us and forgives us of our every sin (Romans 1:17). Let us begin to take this walk of faith; trusting God that He is everything He says He is and He has our best interest at heart.