Who Will Enter God's Rest?
This is Day 28 of my 40 day Lenten blog.
The author of the Letter to the Hebrews tells us that "God's promise of entering His rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of [us] might fail to experience it." (Heb. 4:1). There is not enough fear of being kept out of Heaven in the world today. There is not enough fear that a loved one will be kept out of Heaven. We bicker and argue about who might be refused entrance to Heaven. Some even speculate that no one will be sent to hell. Why take the chance that they are right?
Two verses later the writer explains who can get into heaven, "Only we who believe can enter God's rest." (Heb 4:3). But it is more than just simply believing. We also have to obey Him, for "if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall." (Heb. 4:11).
Who do we see believing in and obeying God? A lot of people? The vast multitude of humanity? Your spouse? Your children? Your pastor? Yourself? Me? These questions are the most important that exist, for those who do not believe in and obey God will burn for eternity in hell and as the writer of Hebrews cautions us, that should make us tremble.
So why don't we do something? If you were in a burning building you would try to save yourself wouldn't you? Would you also try to save others in that building? Probably. But we don't tremble. We don't try to save ourselves or others. We're too busy playing golf, and making money, and going on vacations, and scrolling Facebook, and getting drunk, and looking at porn, and having an affair. Do you feel confident you are safe? If not you should do everything you can to become so. If so, that's great, but remember there are billions out there who are not. With the Holy Spirit, we need to save as many of them as we possibly can. That starts at home with our families. Are we presenting an example of one who believes in and obeys God?
Today's prayer: God, please forgive my sins and save me from the fires of hell. Please do not let any suffer that fate. Please inspire in me, and all of your servants, a burning desire to save as many as we can before it is too late. And please help me to always present a good example of one who believes in and obeys You to others. Especially my children. Amen.
R.C. VanLandingham lives in Florida with his wife and kids. He is the author of several books including the Christian fantasy books Peter Puckett & The Amulet of Eternity, Peter Puckett & the Enchanted Chalice, and Magdalene Hope & the Elves of Evermore.