Don't delay, come quickly.

Okay...that's just weird...I know Jim sent me the order of worship for this Sunday. I was just about to read the passage and study it, but it's gone missing. rather frustrating that!

Ah well...I guess I"ll read from Hebrews this morning....

Today we start Hebrews 4, we find these words:

1Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

"As I swore in my wrath,'They shall not enter my rest,'"

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works." 5And again in this passage he said,

"They shall not enter my rest."

6Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7again he appoints a certain day, "Today," saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,

"Today, if you hear his voice,do not harden your hearts."

8For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. 9So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

11Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Last time we met we learned about the importance of listening to Christ. He who is more important than Moses or the angels, has words that we must heed.

The author of Hebrews goes on to tell us that Christ, that God calls us to enter into his rest. The we must strive for this. That while the promise is still before us, that while there is yet time, we must strive for this. If we don't believe in God we won't enter that rest. That's a promise from God! Perhaps not the kind of promise that we want to remember God making, but none-the-less.....if you FAIL to believe in God, you won't get to enter his rest. Please folk...if you don't know God, if you don't believe IN him (not just about him or his general existence, but IN him as the sole source of your salvation) then you won't be able to rest in him at all. Come while there is still time! Don't wait around, Christ could return tomorrow and then sorrowfully, it will be too late! Come now!

Do not let these words be said of you....

"As I swore in my wrath,'They shall not enter my rest,'"

"They shall not enter my rest."
"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."

God's voice. God's word.
"12For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

See the power in it?
It is active, living, sharper than a two-edged sword.
It can pierce the division between soul and spirit, of joints and marrow.
It discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Nothing can hide from it.
All are naked and exposed before him.
It is to GOD that we give account.

You know...if I didn't firmly believe in God this could be frightening. TO know that I stand so exposed before God. To know that he knows me probably even better than I know myself. And yet he still loves me (sent his son to die for me!), and yet he still calls me to show forth HIS glory. Me in all my sin and shame and "ick". he knows me...and he still says...Child of mine....you are capable of showing my glory to the world around you. Go do so! Kinda cool eh? rather mind-boggling at times.

Don't delay folks. Really truly get to know God. Let him search you. Let him know you. Turn to him, strive to promote his glory, don't delay...you really, really don't want to miss out on his eternal rest...you just don't want to go there.

COME QUICKLY!