Thought of the Day !!

God's promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it.  For this good news - that God has prepared this rest - has been announced to us just as it was to them.  But it did them no good because they didn't share the faith of those who listened to God.

                                                 Hebrews 4:1-2 (NLT)

The author of Hebrews is referring back to the Israelites when he speaks of them who received the promise of rest and who didn't share this promise.  But lets go back even farther than that.  Genesis 2:2 speaks of the 7th day when God rested.  This is not just a day off from work.  When we rest in God, we rest from burdens and sin and anything else that might hold us down.  

God wanted the Israelites to receive this rest.  They had been slaves.  God brought them out of that life and promised them a land where they would be free.  But while they were in the wilderness they disobeyed and were not satisfied that God's rest would be sufficient.  So instead of receiving the land that they had been promised, they wandered in that same wilderness for forty years until the opportunity was given to their children to enter into this Promised Land. 

The promise of rest is offered to us today.  It is not in a land called Israel, or a promised land "flowing with milk and honey" (as it was described to the Israelites).  It is a land far beyond the imagination.  It is a place without end, a place where burdens will cease to exist and eternity will be filled with goodness.  Heaven is the ultimate rest for those of us who will trust in Jesus as the way there.  

But during this time on earth there should be a burden.  Yes, I said it.  We must be burdened...not for our own selves but for those who will not experience this rest.  If we are burdened for others, it will lead to us sharing the Good News.  Jesus never said accept me and enjoy your private salvation.  But he did say to go and make disciples.  Disciple-makers do this because they are burdened for others.  

In the love of Christ,

greg