Missin Rest

         My Father always allowed for a couple of mechanical breakdowns when we traveled anywhere. I don't recall every being late for anything. When we went to church as a family, we were the first to arrive, perhaps even before the man came to open up the building. We had to change some tires in our lifetime as they had tubes in them and the cars had fender skirts all of which made life a little more difficult when a breakdown occurred. There was a phrase that was sometimes used where it said, “You don't want to miss the boat.” If you got somewhere late, it was often said, “Well, you missed the boat.” In life, my dad never wanted to miss the boat so we were early for most things. Hebrews 4:1 says, “ Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.”

       We have been going to a study on the Book of Hebrews and this verse had special meaning the other day in our study. God has said much about “rest” in His Word. Our speaker, Pastor Alderman, mentioned that there have been at least three times when God mentioned entering into rest and how people are ignoring the opportunity right before them. The first was with Adam and Eve. Everything was perfect when God handed it over to humanity, but they blew it when they decided to follow the advice of the serpent rather than that of God. The second time, the Israelites were witnessing the greatest example of God's power as they left the slavery of Egypt and finally they accepted the advice of the ten spies instead of God and they blew it and spent the next 40 years in the wilderness. Finally, God sent His Son to the earth and if people miss this opportunity to enter God's rest, they will have blown it again. At this point, God says, “That's it.” They will have missed the boat. It is indeed a shame that we live in the time when communication is faster and more available than ever before. The Gospel message is being broadcast time and time again and in many different ways, and people are still ignoring it. There is no earthly reason why people don't come to God for the rest for which they long. People seem to be tired, depressed, run down, failing to find peace and happiness and still are missing the rest because they don't listen to God but instead, listen to false roads that lead to destruction. It is seven o'clock in the morning as I write this and already, 48,000 people have died today according to one of the world population clocks. The gospel goes out as missionaries, pastors, teachers, and you and me try to tell the world in which we live how to find rest in this life and in the next. We proclaim the message of the Gospel, of Christ's death, burial and resurrection. We proclaim the words of the Lord Jesus Christ that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and that there is no other way to the Father, but through Him. People have chosen however, to follow the voice of the serpent and to follow the proclamation of the world and will end up missing the rest. Yes, we have a fear that many will miss the rest just as Hebrews 4:1 declares. Don't give up but continue proclaiming the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise God today for the Promises from His Word and the hope that they give us.