FIRM TO THE END
Unbelief in even its slightest form is hateful to God. It is a damning sin, one that destroys the soul. It hinders God's work in us and is the sin behind all departure from God.
You can be totally weaned from all worldly possessions and long for Jesus' coming. You can sit under strong preaching and sing God's praises in His house. And you can devour the Word of God every day. But unless you are praying, "Oh, God, let me hear this word in my inner man; let me believe I can apply it and that it will become life to me," then it has no effect whatsoever. What you hear must be mingled with faith.
"But the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it" (Hebrews 4:2). Let those words sink in: "Unless what you read and hear preached is mixed with faith, it is of no value to you!"
Scripture says, "[Jesus] was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house" (Hebrews 3:2). In what way was their faithfulness measured? How were they truly faithful in all things?
They were counted faithful because they never doubted the heavenly Father's word to them. They knew that God would do what He said. You see, faithfulness is simply believing that God will keep His Word.
In this sense, Jesus and Moses held “the beginning of [their] confidence steadfast unto the end" (Hebrews 3:14). They did not have an up-and-down, hot-and-cold kind of faith. Their faith never wavered!
Just as Jesus was faithful in His confidence in the Father, our faithfulness will be measured by the same standard: "But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end" (Hebrews 3:6).
As our trials increase and the battle grows more intense, our flesh can become weary. Over time, many Christians allow fear and doubt to creep in. They lose their abandonment to God, their childlike faith in Him, and questioning invades their hearts.
As I look down the road that remains of my life, I see limited time. And I want more than anything to be rejoicing in hope, firm to the end.
You can be totally weaned from all worldly possessions and long for Jesus' coming. You can sit under strong preaching and sing God's praises in His house. And you can devour the Word of God every day. But unless you are praying, "Oh, God, let me hear this word in my inner man; let me believe I can apply it and that it will become life to me," then it has no effect whatsoever. What you hear must be mingled with faith.
"But the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it" (Hebrews 4:2). Let those words sink in: "Unless what you read and hear preached is mixed with faith, it is of no value to you!"
Scripture says, "[Jesus] was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house" (Hebrews 3:2). In what way was their faithfulness measured? How were they truly faithful in all things?
They were counted faithful because they never doubted the heavenly Father's word to them. They knew that God would do what He said. You see, faithfulness is simply believing that God will keep His Word.
In this sense, Jesus and Moses held “the beginning of [their] confidence steadfast unto the end" (Hebrews 3:14). They did not have an up-and-down, hot-and-cold kind of faith. Their faith never wavered!
Just as Jesus was faithful in His confidence in the Father, our faithfulness will be measured by the same standard: "But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end" (Hebrews 3:6).
As our trials increase and the battle grows more intense, our flesh can become weary. Over time, many Christians allow fear and doubt to creep in. They lose their abandonment to God, their childlike faith in Him, and questioning invades their hearts.
As I look down the road that remains of my life, I see limited time. And I want more than anything to be rejoicing in hope, firm to the end.