Pam Padgett ... teacher
Hebrews 4: 10 For he that is entered into
his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that
rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
While considering that we are to rest from our own works as
God did from His, I recalled the following …
Acts
15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the
world.
Hebrews 4: 3 For we which have believed do
enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter
into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the
world.
The works of God were laid out
and finished from the foundation of the world.
We simply need to walk in the way God has for us, the way He leads
us. But this takes faith in God. Faith that God has planned out the way before
us, knowing everything we will face and is able to keep us. Faith that God is able to lead us in that
way. Faith that God will provide
everything we need and will protect us.
We have
been given the example of some of the children of Israel in the wilderness. Because of their unbelief, they were not able
to enter into the rest God had for them.
Hebrews 3: 16 For some, when they had heard,
did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17 But with whom
was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases
fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into
his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter
in because of unbelief.
Psalm 78: 22 Because they believed not in
God, and trusted not in his salvation:
It can seem so clear to us that they should have believed God and trusted
Him to provide everything they needed in the wilderness. But we face the same temptations as we deal
with the various things we face as we walk on this earth. We’re warned …
Hebrews 4: 1 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. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but
the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that
heard it.
In the Bible we have read many things God has
done, and we’ve experienced in our own lives ways God has led, protected, and
provided for us. But, much as the
children of Israel in the wilderness, fears, our flesh trying to exalt itself,
and thoughts from the devil can tempt us to enter into a way of our own work …
trying to work things out with our minds, trying to provide for ourselves,
trusting in our own abilities, following what someone else has done … rather than turning strongly to God with our
situation, waiting for His provision and guidance, trusting Him to lead us in
the way He has for us, and going that way.