Hebrews 4:9-10 NIV
[9] There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; [10] for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.
As laid out in the devotion for yesterday, it is God's laid down pattern and purpose that we do not strive to please Him by labour alone. He wants us to come into a relationship with Him, where we serve out of a heart of love, not compulsion. In fact, God would rather I come to Him of my own freewill, than for Him to compel me to love and serve Him. Service that comes out of compulsion will be deemed conscription or forced labour, and that will lead to hypocrisy, eye-service and deceit. That is why the verse above lays emphasis on 'anyone who enters'. This distinction is critical to the verses above, and shows that God does not discriminate against anyone. It does not matter what the depth or scope or width of the stain is; God is able to deal with the issue of sin for anyone who seeks to enter. God will not force Himself on me, or go against the exercise of my freewill, but He will surely change the story for me if I come to Him.
I also note that there is an 'entering' that must be done, which means that there is a door or some form of access, and there has to be a key or some form of entry specification or code for those who seek to enter. I cannot determine by myself what God accepts; I have to come in by the door that He has provided and also opened for me. That door is by the blood of Jesus. Trust God on this: for this present generation, nothing else will work. God has been very specific on how man can obtain forgiveness and redemption from sin, as well as eternal salvation, and it will only be wise for me to take God up on His offer. When you consider the fact that His Word has not yet been found to fail, you can be sure that if He says the blood is sufficient, then it is. If I have tried other options and have not yet found the peace that is promised, why not take up the offer made by God? What do I stand to lose, which I have not already lost?
The promise by God is that if i come in by the door He has opened, I get the kind of rest that He also got when he rested from the work of creation. That is a deep statement, the depth and scope of which nothing on earth can compare with or fully explain away. God rested on the seventh day, and till today, nothing on earth has been able to shake God out of His authority and control over all that He has made. Yes, man may choose to go rouge, but it will not catch God by surprise. All of creation may decide to rebel, yet nothing down here can dethrone God or reduce His power and influence. In the same way, if I am to enjoy the same kind of rest, it means that I am at peace, no matter what the storm around me looks like. Let the winds blow or the fire burn; the rest on my inside defines how I respond. I am set upon the rock that is Christ; He is more than enough. What are you waiting for? The offer is in place, but can be withdrawn at any time. Don't wait till it is too late, so you do not wail for all of eternity. God's time of favour is here.
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