Welcome back, we’re movin’ ahead with God the Father, His Son, Jesus Christ, and God’s Holy Spirit. God is moving in all directions every day. We want to move with Him because He’s going where nobody else can take us. We want to go! Are we able to travel with Him in LIFE? Yes. Our fuel? BELIEF. Having “no fuel” is called UNBELIEF. Unbelief is a serious problem/sin/failure/breakdown/life-stopper in relating to God. Why? Note these electrifying words “…they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.” This stunning statement leaps from an eye-popping Bible account {Hebrews 3:7-19}. In it God unequivocally says belief is absolutely, totally, unquestionably essential. Otherwise, as the account asks, “…to whom did God swear that they would never enter His rest…?”(Hebrews 3:18) Answer? UN-believers. What is REST? It’s resting in our relationship with God, made possible by Christ. God cures our spiritual restlessness; He is the answer to our questions, Why can’t I find satisfaction?, Why does God seem unreal to me?. Rest describes eternal salvation as well as the quality of daily life we can experience as God’s child. Using the word BELIEF, let’s unpack some life-altering truths:
B – Here’s how God works in the heart, mind and soul of each person: First you believe, then you receive! This order is never reversed – never. And it always works – always. God stands behind His Word. Read it for yourself. It’s found in the Bible, in the gospel John, chapter 1, verse 12, in the New Testament. Read it and leap!
E – Everyone can believe. Everyone can receive. The evidence of GOD’S existence abounds and rebounds around us. So what causes unbelief? Let Hebrews 3:7,12 speak: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…See to it…that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.”
L – Leave your unbelieving life in your dust. There’s nothing in it for you; it’s self-destructive and self-defeating. All the joy, rest, hope, power, love, peace and forgiveness lie in believing. One man cried out to Christ, “…help me overcome my unbelief.” And Christ did. Leave and live.
I – Intentionally believe God and God will intentionally reward you: “And without faith it is impossibe to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6, New Testament) No one accidentally believes God, it’s our act of intelligent, willful commitment. This is what God asks of you, seeks from you – demands – or no deal.
E – Encouragers are God’s messengers to you! Who’s been encouraging you to believe God, to look to Christ, to pray, to read Scripture, to go to worship, to repent, to look up, to doubt your doubts and start believing? Stop and thank God for them. He’s sent them to you because He loves you. Don’t let Satan doubt you out of the rest Christ alone offers to you. End your restlessness today, enter His rest.
F – Focus on resting in Christ for the rest of your life. You may already be a believer, yet like myself and many others, you must constantly focus on believing God every day. Why is this so? Because we’re in a spiritual battle between belief and unbelief. Feed your faith and starve your doubts. Feed your faith on the truth of God’s Word, this is where faith is born, nurtured and matures. Today read chapter 11 of Hebrews in the New Testament – you’ll meet champions of belief who won the contest of “belief vs. unbelief”. Our belief is tried, tested and found true or false. Here’s how to follow through in faith: “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” (Jude 1: 20,21, New Testament of the Bible)
Talk to God now, ask Him in your own words to end your restlessness. He’ll hear the voice of your heart. Enter God’s rest with Christ. It’s time.
Sincerely, Chuck
P.S.: What are your thoughts? Let me hear from you – today.