01/10/2019
Why do you fret and run about in your faith? Are you fearful of physical death, and don’t understand what lies ahead, or are you actually afraid that you have fallen short of God’s mark and will not experience eternity with Him? As a Christian you should fear neither... you should have confidence in the Lord’s promise of eternity, and know that your faith in Jesus Christ is your pass to dine comfortably, restfully, at God’s table.
“Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”
2 Timothy 4:8 ESV
So many Christians are exhausted... out of fear they work themselves into a frenzy, and wear themselves out because they fear that they will not receiving their reward, and of not making it into heaven. This turns them into a flash fire that burns incredibly bright, but dies out just as quickly as it lived. It is in this fear, and in this way, that Satan robs us of our peace, of the eternal promise, and attempts rob drive us away from our faith.
I loved to camp when I was younger; back in those years when the ground was not as hard to sleep on as it is today, and my joints not nearly as stiff! One of my favorite times was early morning when the air was crisp and smelled so clean. I would climb out of my sleeping bag, pull on my clothes, slip quietly from my tent, and start a fire to prepare my breakfast. Sometimes kindling would be in short supply, so I would look around and find pine boughs that had fallen to the ground. These were sure to catch fire easily, but once they started to burn you had to move quickly to get the rest of the firewood burning atop them. You see, pine branches, and the needles attached to them, were like gunpowder... they would burn in a flash, and then be gone... ashes. So before you lit them the rest of the fire had to be laid on top of them and be ready to catch their short lived heat and flame before it died out, and was gone. As Christians we come in all types of wood, but we need to be careful that we aren’t like the pine boughs that burn bright, crackling and make much noise, then exhausting ourselves into ashes before the job has been done.
“each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.”
1 Corinthians 3:13 ESV
What will your work look like? What will be added to your faith? How much heat will you produce, and for how long? What kind of fire will you be? Will you be like the oak or hickory that burns slowly all night long, and gives out much heat, or the pine that burns quickly, aromatically, and whose heat is short lived? When we fret and fear for our salvation; when the promise of God’s grace has to be continually fed pine boughs in order to keep it brilliantly bright, then what rest and peace do we find in Jesus?
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."”
Matthew 11:28-30 ESV
Our faith is not a footrace, but rather a long and pleasant walk from where we are to where God awaits us with a warm fire burning, and a hot meal on His table. Jesus never once whipped up the crowds into a frothy foam, or stoked a fire that burnt quickly away as He was teaching... he gave rest, peace, and spoke of an eternity abiding in it.
“And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.”
Mark 6:31 ESV
Jesus calls us to rest, He knows what lies ahead, and that God will wait on us to arrive, just as He asks us to wait on Him. We are preparing to enter a kingdom that has already been in existence for an eternity, and has an eternity yet before it, so why do we fret? Why do we fear that what God gave us in the form of grace will not be sufficient? Forgiveness is like a wood that burns bright and hot, but it is also a hardwood that is long suffering... meant to last through the night... keeping us safe and warm until the Son comes again.
“so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:7-9 ESV
Be calm, restful, at peace in the promise of the coming Christ. Do not fear death, or that you will be caught unprepared to to receive Him when He comes. Work diligently, but slowly at your faith. Don’t build a make-do structure of it, but rather a strong castle that will last an eternity. Have faith in the goodness of God, and in the truth of His Word. Relax in His eternal promise, and in His Holy Spirit which will lead you home.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the comfort I find in your Holy Word, your Son Jesus, and in your Holy Spirit. Thank you for the grace that flows from your Son, who you sent for me even when I was yet a sinner. Give me peace and rest in you Holy Father, so that I can find comfort in our relationship, knowing all the while that your love for me is certain, and without end. I lean back into your arms Lord, and find restful sleep there. I do not fear death, or having failed you because your grace and forgiveness is sufficient. Help me Merciful Father to hear your will for me, and to do it joyfully. Teach me that there is seldom a timeframe attached to those things you ask of me... no deadline, no expiration date, just instructions that detail the steps ahead. Make my journey of faith pleasant, and yet ever increasing until at last I find myself before you at your table. Keep Satan from tempting me with my own human anxiety and impatience, and give me more of your patience and your peace as we travel on. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God, in whose mercy, grace, and forgiveness I find my rest, and whose promises are burning with the fire of never ending truth.
“And you said, 'Behold, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire. This day we have seen God speak with man, and man still live.”
Deuteronomy 5:24 ESV
Rich Forbes