If we obey, we can rest

The first four chapters of Hebrews is all about rest. Here's what the writer of Hebrews says:

God is on the throne... so rest.

Salvation is ours to recieve... so rest.

Jesus is the firstborn among many... we are his brothers and sisters... we all share one Father... so rest.

Our heavenly eldest brother has tasted death for all of us, and through death, destroyed the one with the power of death, the devil... so rest.

He has made propititation for all our sins, and because He shared in our humanity, He can help us when we're tempted... so rest.

Whenever we hear His voice, and decide not to harden our hearts and go our own way, but obey what He says... we can rest.

We are NOT to be like the Israelites, who for instance, entered the Promised Land, but did not completely obey His command to eliminate ALL their enemies. They only eliminated some. As it is said, a partial obedience is no obedience at all. In the end, God let the alien tribes stay to harrass them from generation to generation -- they had no peace from their enemies, which God had originally promised them, because they had not fulfilled their part of their bargain. The core issue, says the Hebrews writer, was that when they heard God's commands and promises, they did not believe Him, and so did not completely obey. The result was -- no rest.

9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,
10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

Let us obey the living and active word of God. He knows our hearts, He knows what is best for us, so listen to Him. And so enter -- into His Sabbath rest.

Jesus' use of exaggeration

Jesus often used exaggeration to illustrate a point. The literary term for this method is hyperbole, which Wiki defines as "a rhetorical device in which statements are exaggerated. It may be used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression, but is not meant to be taken literally."

Wikipedia knows it. Some of us readers may know it. But the disciples often miss the point.

One example: To illustrate the seriousness of the hour, Jesus says in Luke 22:

35 "When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?" They said, "No, nothing."

36 And He said to them, "But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one.

The disciples' response:

38 They said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." And He said to them, "It is enough." (i.e. they didn't get it, so He dismisses the issue. But, as we are later to find out, they still didn't get it.)

Change scene to Gethsemane, where Judas comes with people to arrest Him. The disciples, armed and ready for action, said:

49 "Lord, shall we strike with the sword ?"

50 And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

51 But Jesus answered and said, "Stop ! No more of this." And He touched his ear and healed him.

They just didn't get it. He was using hyperbole, exaggeration, to illustrate the seriousness of the the times. But His disciples took it literally, and He had to intervene and heal the poor man whose ear was cut off. (Btw, there's hope for all of us here. We may make our mistakes, but our Lord is sovereign, and can cover our mistakes. Note though, that the man's ear was healed -- not replaced).

I feel sorry for those poor, earnest souls in China and elsewhere, who took the Lord's words literally and plucked out their eye, or cut off their hand, because they thought they were obeying His commands. May we pray that we have wisdom and discernment in reading His Word, that we may apply it judiciously.

When we read the Word -- the whole Word, from cover to cover, and within context -- have in the back of our minds that God is Love, and Love isn't destructive. Love heals, and Love warns, in order that we may avoid destruction. Let us interpret His Word accordingly, and if anything sounds unloving, leave that on the shelf until He reveals more in time.

Life or death

Luke 20

17 But Jesus looked at them and said, "What then is this that is written : 'THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone'?

18 "Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces ; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust."

I'm reminded of the first two stones that Man rejected: the ten commandments written by "the finger of God". The first set that God gave him, Moses smashed when he saw the Israelites committing idolatry. The second set, presented to the repentant Israelites, were preserved -- although now lost forever, as far as we know.

These commandments written on stone were mean to preserve life; broken, they cost life -- souls shatter slowly to pieces as they break these commands. Later, Jesus comes -- the chief cornerstone, the one who would fulfill all the commandments, and who would exemplify them, not break them. He lived a wholesome, sinless life, a perfect life, so that death had no hold on Him. Mission accomplished -- to die on the cross to pay for all our sins -- He ascended to Heaven and now awaits a time when He would come again.

The chief cornerstone, the one who embodies the two slabs of stone that were given to the Israelites, and ultimately to the world was, like the first two stones, continually rejected up to now. Acceptance of Him and loving obedience to what He taught would bring life, and life in abundance. Rejection of Him and all he stands for meant a slow shattering of soul, and ultimately, a hell of never-ending brokenness, despair, dissatisfaction, regret -- the list goes on and on.

(Anti-Christ cults teach a systematic breaking of the ten commandments as an initiation rite -- the powers of darkness know that this would result in systematic shattering of the integrity of the spirit-soul-body which gives them greater and greater access to the person's soul, to wreak further havoc in the person's life and those around him/her. Other cults teach a breaking of one or two commandments, but that one or two is deadly enough already to create a big divide within the soul that allows access to the powers of darkness. But it's not only the cults. Society teaches the breaking of commandments as normal and even "hip" and "cool". That's why it's not just enough to call yourself a Christian, you need to know the true Jesus Christ Himself and follow Him, else you'll be led down a very precipitous path.)

Jesus wanted reconciliation; Man, however, has the freedom to reject or accept Him. Many reject Him, and continue to do so to their own peril.

Jesus has said that Narrow is the way, and few find it. He knew right from the start. He knew.

For those of us who are Christ-followers, who truly know Him (there are many who know only ABOUT Him -- to their own peril), our call is to watch and pray, and reach out in love to those who desperately need Him and are open to our hand of help.

If you're reading this and you want to know the Lord Jesus Christ -- pray the following prayer, and mean it:

"Dear Jesus, if you are who you say you are -- the Saviour of the World, Lord of Lords and King of Kings -- please show yourself real to me. I want to know the Truth about who You are. Amen." Note the day and time of your prayer, and watch what happens next.