Hebrews 10:22-25

Hebrews 10:22-25

“let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (NKJV).

When Father God created people, He created them to interact with Him in relationship. That’s a pretty amazing thing, if you think about it. Father God is Creator. He’s not just king of the universe, because that would imply that He was part of it. He isn’t. He isn’t part of the universe, but rather its Creator. And this Creator wants to have a relationship with me. He created me for that very purpose. And so, throughout the Bible, there are statements that require my participation in order to be part of this relationship. Some of that statements are what I call “If-thens.” If I do something, then God will do something. 1 John 1:9 is that kind of verse: “If we confess our sin,” then “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We do the if. He does the then. These verses in Hebrews aren’t if-thens; they are let us–because. In other words, rather than us doing something and God responds (if-thens), God has done something and we respond. Because He has done this, let us do this. In these verses, there are three of these.

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith
Because our hearts have been sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering
Because he who promised is faithful

Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another
Because we have the Day of Hope approaching when the Lord Jesus will return for us

What’s interesting about these three let-uses is that one points to God, one points inside us, and one points toward others. We are to draw near to Him, cling to our confession, and consider others. It is, in essence, the perfect formula for living as a believer.

It’s always interesting that scripture never tells us to trust how we feel, but rather tells us to rely on our experience and the Word of God. When we first believed and trusted the Lord Jesus for our salvation, our hearts were sprinkled from an evil conscience. The fact that we want to do the right thing is a testament to that. And this first act was confirmed by water baptism. We have the assurance that we are saved. Now we are to draw near with a true heart, without wavering or doubting, but believing, without trying to manipulate, but simply trusting. A true heart is honest, but also trusting. We can cry out that we are in pain or ignorance, but we still need to trust that God is working all things for our good. The full assurance of faith trusts not in the situation, but in the character of God Who cannot lie and who has promised to take care of us, regardless of how things look.

The second let us-because says that we must hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering. Interestingly enough, this is linked to the first because it deals with our faith. Holding fast implies that we can also let go. James spoke to this in his epistle:

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (1:2-8 NKJV).

James specifically attaches trials to doubting. When our circumstances are happy and wonderful, we have no reason to doubt; it becomes easy to be a Christian. But when life is difficult, when we are suffering or denied what we need, it becomes much more difficult. James admonishes us, in those situations, to count it all joy, understanding that it is during these times that our faith will produce patience. In other words, even though the situation is grim and becomes grimmer, we are told to trust God and to rejoice that He is working everything for our good. We are to hold fast to the confession of our hope, that this isn’t our home and that the Lord Jesus is preparing an eternal home for us in heaven. Why should we do this? What is the “because”? We do it because He who is promised is faithful. We believe Him because He cannot lie; what He says He will do He will do!

The third let us-because says that we should be with other believers to stir up love and good works among us and to exhort each other. What’s interesting is that many pastors use this passage to demand that we all attend their churches. I’m not sure that’s what it means. Certainly, it means that we should regularly fellowship with other believers, but not for the purpose of being an audience, but rather for the purpose of encouraging and exhorting. Do you know what exhort means? I didn’t; I had to look it up. The dictionary says that exhorting is to “to incite by argument or advice; to urge strongly; to give warnings or advice; make urgent appeals.” We exhort each other not to sin. That’s the purpose of meeting together. We are to hold each other accountable. Now this isn’t something we impose on someone else, but rather something we submit ourselves to. And we meet regularly which implies a trusting relationship with those whom we meet. Why do we do this? What is the “because”? Because the Lord Jesus is returning soon. Because the time is short and we need to be serious about being believers.

If we draw near to Father God through prayer and submission, if we trust Him regardless of the circumstances around us, and if we gather with other believers who encourage us to love, to do good works, and to live righteously, then we will learn to look toward our Hope which is the Lord Jesus coming to get us soon.

© 2010 Robin L. O’Hare. All rights reserved. Permission granted for nonprofit and church groups to use this article in its entirety (including this notice). For other uses, please contact servinggodalone@yahoo.com.

Hebrews 9:27-28

Hebrews 9:27-28

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” (NKJV)

I read in a book once that the early church didn’t celebrate birthdays because they found life to be so painful, but rather celebrated deaths because death was the transition from this life into heaven. I know that growing up, our church celebrated funerals and called them graduations. These celebrations were filled with joyous songs because we knew that the person who had died was now in the presence of the Lord, a place we all wanted to be.

I think that how we look at life and death has changed in these passing years, and not necessarily for the better. We cling to this life as if it has some amazing value and try not to think too much about heaven which is where the true value lies. I wonder why that is. The goal of the believer has always be to leave this life where sin rules and to be present with the Lord.

I think there is a natural fear about dying. Inside we question what will happen, will we be afraid. Paul discussed this in 2 Corinthians:

“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. . . . So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.” (5:1-4, 6 NKJV).

The analogy of being clothed or naked is a reference to the fact that, as creatures, we are afraid of being only a spirit, being without a body. Paul tells us that is natural because we do need a body. And we shall have one, but it won’t be this body.

Have you ever noticed that this body fights against you as a believer? That it leans toward temptation, succumbs to sin? When we understand this, we can clearly see why Paul says that we should want to be “clothed with our habitation which is from heaven.” Can you imagine living in a body that would actually obey your wishes and obey God? Can you imagine waking up everyday and knowing that you wouldn’t sin? That’s heaven!

Paul discussed the difference between those who want to be in heaven and those who cling to this earth:

“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame--who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” (3:18-21 NKJV).

Paul gives us a comparison here, comparing those who are eager to be in heaven and those who are not. Those who are eager wait for the Savior, want to be transformed according to His working. But those who are not eager want to satisfies their lusts and set their minds on earthly things. This is a difficult passage because I can see myself here and not in a good way. There are days when I cling to this world and its stuff, as if there is value in any of that. I delude myself.

I can choose where to place my hopes, my desires, my heart. Am I longing to be with the Lord Jesus today or am I putting my feet further down in the muck of this life? Each moment the choice is mine. Heaven or earth? The choice is simple, the choosing is much, much harder. Today I want to choose heaven.

© 2010 Robin L. O’Hare. All rights reserved. Permission granted for nonprofit and church groups to use this article in its entirety (including this notice). For other uses, please contact servinggodalone@yahoo.com.

Matthew 24:40-42

Matthew 24:40-42

Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. (NKJV)

We have forgotten how to weep because, I think, in the busyness of our lives, we have forgotten what is really important.

This past week, an acquaintance died. I met this man only once, but he was a likeable person, someone I think my husband and I would have enjoyed getting to know. However, I must confess that in that one meeting my focus wasn’t on guiding the conversation, if he would have allowed it, to discussing the things of the Lord, but rather upon more trivial things. And perhaps I could have justified that as a way to first gain confidence, to make my later conversations more trustworthy. But there will be no conversations, for this past weekend, this man left his body here to face the Lord. Was he a Christian? I don’t know. If I had known I would have had only that one opportunity, would I have been bolder in my witness? I must confess that if I had been more open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, I might have had a chance to at least share the gospel once. I hope and pray that someone was more courageous, more obedient than I was.

The Lord comes for everyone of us. Whether at His second coming or at our deaths, we will face Him, acknowledge Him as Lord, and account for our lives (Romans 14:10). There is no more compelling or important appointment waiting for us, and yet, as believers, I think we often put this aside in favor of focusing on other things in our lives. Oh, we tell ourselves that those things have importance and they do, possibly, to a point. But if we are serious as Christians, we must admit that much of what we do is wasted and much of what we ignore is what actually affects eternity.

John Wesley wrote:

“Do you know yourself a sinner? Weep for your sins, and mourn after God, till He turns your heaviness into joy. And even then, weep with those who weep, and for those who weep not for themselves. Mourn for the sins and miseries of all humanity. See the immense ocean of eternity without a bottom or a shore. It has swallowed up millions upon millions of people and is ready to devour those who yet remain.

“Here is the house of God, eternal in the heavens. And there is hell and destruction, without a covering! And from this, learn the importance of every moment which just appears and then is gone forever.”

There is a persistent seriousness to Wesley’s Christianity that, I think, the modern Church lacks. There is an eternal perspective, understanding what’s really important and what’s just wasted hay and stubble, that Wesley embraced but one which we don’t even know about! Today, someone is going to die. There is no way we can stop it. It may even be someone we know or perhaps someone we have wanted to share the gospel with, but just put it off. Isn’t it time that we get serious about what we believe, serious to the point that we put our words into actions? If we truly believe that those who haven’t surrendered to the Lord Jesus are facing eternal condemnation, and if we believe that the Lord Jesus truly died to save all who will believe (John 3:16, 2 Peter 3:9), then isn’t it time that our beliefs become the springboard for what we do, even what we do today?

I’m Trading My Sorrows
by Darrell Evans

I’m trading my sorrows. I’m trading my shame.
I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord.

We say, yes, Lord, yes, Lord, yes, yes, Lord
Yes, Lord, yes, Lord, yes, yes, Lord
Yes, Lord, yes, Lord, yes, yes, Lord. Amen.

Today, I want to say “yes, Lord” to whatever He would have me say or do. Amen! So be it.

© 2010 Robin L. O’Hare. All rights reserved. Permission granted for nonprofit and church groups to use this article in its entirety (including this notice). For other uses, please contact servinggodalone@yahoo.com.

Matthew 26:39

Matthew 26:39

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." (NKJV)

It struck me, the other day, that the ultimate sin–the foundational mindset that causes us to sin–is a matter of control. We sin because we want to control . . . to control our circumstances, to control those around us, to control our future. We win because we want some thing rather than being willing to let God and trust God to give us what He wants.

The Bible talks about us having control, but that control isn’t over what happens to us, but rather is over our reactions to what happens to us. It’s called self-control. Self-control is defined as “restraint exercised over one’s own impulses, emotions, or desires.” We are not only called, but commanded, to exercise self-control. Why? Because if we don’t, if we allow our impulses, emotions, or desires to have full reign, then we are refusing to trust God to provide for us. We want what we want when we want it! And that’s not how it works as a Christian.

Change is very difficult for most of us. We don’t like having others decide where we will live, what we will do, where we will go. We want to have our say, to have our voices heard in what will happen to us. But I’m beginning to wonder if that isn’t simply a form of rebellion. Don’t we believe that God will work out everything for our good (Romans 8:28)? And if we do believe that, then what does it matter what people do with us or to us? I know that I spend a lot of time and energy worrying about the decisions that other people make that affect me and yet, in truth, those decisions are unimportant. If I trust God, then I know that He is working out things for my good. I don’t need to worry about what’s happening around me. “In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 56:11 NKJV). The fact is that nothing can happen to me that God doesn’t see or that He hasn’t already made a provision for. I don’t need to be afraid when times look dark. What can anyone do to me? I have put my trust in God! He controls my future!

Jeremiah 29:11 Liv: “For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

© 2010 Robin L. O’Hare. All rights reserved. Permission granted for nonprofit and church groups to use this article in its entirety (including this notice). For other uses, please contact servinggodalone@yahoo.com.

Hebrews 6:17-19

Hebrews 6:17-19

“Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil” (NKJV).

Yesterday, the L.A. Marathon was run. It’s a grueling 26 miles. In interviewing one of the runners, they asked if he had noticed that the course had changed to include some beautiful views. He said, no, that he just kept looking ahead to eventually see the end of the course. He knew that the run wouldn’t last forever, that if he kept running, he would eventually see the finish line.

There are many Christians in the world who are suffering greatly right now. And through that suffering, we need to learn that avoiding the suffering shouldn’t be the goal, but rather running through the suffering to the finish line, to the hope that we have in the Lord Jesus, the salvation of our souls. We have a hope that is secure, the hope of everlasting life, if we persevere to the end. And that hope is an anchor for our souls if we allow it to be.

Jean-Mark Vaval is the eight-year-old son of a Haitain pastor. This pastor is also the Haitian director of Global Orphan. For the past weeks, this father has been working to feed and locate hundreds of children separated from their parents because of the earthquake in Port a Prince. He was doing this, not knowing where his son was. Last night, on 60 Minutes, I watched this father tell his congregation that while he didn’t know where his son was, God knew where he was. And the father was smiling, not crying. (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/19/60minutes/main6315112.shtml?tag=cbsnewsSectionContent.2)

Can you imagine? This man understands the hope that we have as Christians. He understands that we often can’t control the circumstances around us and must simply trust God to control what we can’t. This pastor’s hope is an anchor to his soul.

Right now many of us are going through circumstances that are bleak. As far as we can see into the future, there is no hope for things to get better. And yet, as Christians, we need to continue to trust God to make things work together for our good (Romans 8:28), to cling to the belief that we have a hope simply because He has promised us that. Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) says:

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

In the midst of the turmoil, God has promised us peace between us and Him. God has promised us a future and a hope. We may not hold what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future.

“I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” by Ira Stanphill

I don’t know about tomorrow. It may bring me poverty,
But the One Who feeds the sparrow is the One Who stands by me.
And the path that is my portion may be through the flame or flood
But His presence goes before me and I’m covered with His blood.

Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.

This life is a hiccup in eternity. We can endure anything, can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil. 4:13). We may not have a bright immediate future, but we have a bright eternal future, and in the long run, that’s all that matters.

© 2010 Robin L. O’Hare. All rights reserved. Permission granted for nonprofit and church groups to use this article in its entirety (including this notice). For other uses, please contact servinggodalone@yahoo.com.

Hebrews 6:10, 19

Hebrews 6:10, 19

“For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. . . . This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil” (NKJV).

Life is crazy right now for teachers (of which I’m one). For many, there are no jobs next year. Tenure and unionization is out the windows. Even good teaching is out the window. People are being chosen to stay based on their place on a list, nothing more. And for the rest of us . . . we have to wonder how long the hammer will be stayed before it falls for us. Will next year bring joblessness and fear? It’s so very sad that professionals who have spent many years becoming skilled at what they do are thrown away like so much trash without a thought on how it will affect the children we are called to teach.

It’s craziness.

In the midst of the craziness, there is only one sanity–that God will remain faithful when those around us are faithless. And that the focus of our lives needn’t be what we earn or how successful our careers appear to be. The focus of our lives needs to be our work and our labor of love in His name as we minister to the saints and those around us. In the midst of this craziness, it’s up to us, as believers, to stand firm in God’s promise that He has already provided for us. “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 NKJV). What’s marvelous about this promise is the ALL things. It’s not just what we do good or what others do good. It’s everything, even the craziness, that He is working together for our good. Our part of that promise is to love Him which includes trusting Him, even in the darkness.

I sat yesterday with a dear friend, crying with her and holding her hand, as she sought to find some sanity among the craziness. It’s difficult not to panic when everything that looks good begins to fade. As Christians, we need to continually believe that what we see may not be what we think it is, that the “good” in this world is nothing compared to the love of our Savior and His plans for us. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,; says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope’” (Jeremiah 29:11 Liv). His plans are always for good, for a future and a hope! We need to trust Him through this, even through the painful, difficult times. God’s plans are going to take us to the best solution of all because of His love for us. And what better time to demonstrate His love to the world than amidst the craziness of these times?

© 2010 Robin L. O’Hare. All rights reserved. Permission granted for nonprofit and church groups to use this article in its entirety (including this notice). For other uses, please contact servinggodalone@yahoo.com.

Hebrews 6:13-15

For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you." And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. (NKJV)

God isn’t McDonald’s.

Have you ever thought about how impatient we are as a society? We want what we want when we want it, thinking that if we don’t get it now, then what’s the point? Everything is a fast food mentality.

There is a great deal of difference between going to McDonald’s and cooking a hamburger at home. The focus of eating at a fast food place is . . . well, the idea of fast. You can stand at the order counter, place your order, and get your food quicker at McDonald’s then you can probably take out the hamburger, add spices, and fashion the patty at home. But the hamburger likely isn’t the same. I know that the hamburgers that my husband and I cook at home are far better (and healthier) than what we order at McDonald’s. When we eat at fast food, the only things that we get as benefits are time and convenience. When we cook at home, we get many benefits including healthier food. The point being that eating at McDonald’s may have immediate benefits, but not long term ones.

God isn’t about immediate benefits. He sees the long term and plans for us for eternity, not just for the moment. There are numerous stories in scripture where He made a promise and then waited . . . and waited . . . and waited . . . to bring the promise to fruition. Why? Because it was better. Here in Hebrews the author writes: “After he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.” That seems to be a premise that we need to embrace. The promises come after we patiently endure.

Now, there are two important concepts in those words: “patiently” and “endured.” First, when we are patient, we bear trials and sorrows without complaining; we are steadfast despite opposition or adversity. In other words, we stand the course, trusting God through it all. There is a great deal about patience in scripture. James writes:

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4 NKJV).

Patience makes us complete as believers. And it is when we are complete that we are ready to receive God’s promises. The second word “endure” is about being steadfast in the faith. It’s easy to trust God for a moment. It’s difficult to trust Him over time when circumstances fail against His faithfulness. But as believers we are called over and over to endure. Why? Because that’s what makes faith. Faith isn’t something we say; it’s something we live. If we have faith then through the darkest hour we will still believe that He is working everything for our good. And it is after we have patiently endured that His promise will finally come in our lives.

© 2010 Robin L. O’Hare. All rights reserved. Permission granted for nonprofit and church groups to use this article in its entirety (including this notice). For other uses, please contact servinggodalone@yahoo.com.