Yesterday and Today

7.6.2011

Hebrews 3:18-19 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. NIV

Yesterday, we read that Jesus suffered: In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. (Hebrews 2:10 NIV) Who is the Author of our salvation if not Jesus? Who suffered like Him? Jesus suffered because as a man, He experienced the suffering of men; and as God He suffered the sinfulness of men. Jesus learned and was made perfect in that He set aside His godhood to live as a man and experience all of what men experience but He didn’t succumb to the excuses of men or the weaknesses of men – He remained true in every way and thought to God.

There is something to be said for the magnitude of the majesty of suffering and remaining true to God in spite of it; to believe that there’s a point to it all and a purpose to achieve.

And so today, we read there is a consequence to wimping out the human way; it’s called unbelief. Belief shows that following God faithfully and dying to self along the way causes perfection. Unbelief results in faithlessness, selfishness, and not entering the rest of God which provides for calm in the storms (Matthew 8.23ff) and protection from the fires (Daniel 3). 

Yesterday, the saints of old were tried by fire and tribulation. Some believed some didn’t. Today, we’re asked to do the same things in different ways but with the same desired results: we can learn from our suffering and trust in God; or we can fail to enter God’s rest because of unbelief – the choice is ours. Here’s a thought: peaceful rest in the midst of suffering is a precious jewel and only those who believe will get it. Belief accepts suffering as necessary both as a true indicator that we’re on the right path, and as a divine agent of change in our living. If Jesus accepted it as part of the gig, shouldn’t we…

Father in Heaven,
Your ways are wholesome and true and include wonderful teachers that are devoted to our change, our maturing, and our perfection as true sons and daughters of the light. Thank You – amen!