Belief and Obedience

"And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? ¹⁹ So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."

Hebrews 3:18-19

God brought the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt by a mighty hand and led them to the threshold of the Promised Land.  Yet upon hearing a bad report by 10 of the 12 spies sent into Canaan, the people were filled with fear and even regretted leaving Egypt!  They believed the reports of huge fortifications and giants in the land instead of looking to the almighty God who had brought them thus far:  the One who led them out would bring them in with victory.  Because they would not enter in God decreed that generation (save the two faithful spies Joshua and Caleb) could not enter the land.  Their unbelief led them to rebel rather than obey.

This is an incredibly relevant and thought-provoking situation to consider personally.  If unbelief prevented God's people from trust and obedience to Him, it is possible for us to hesitate on the threshold of blessings God has already provided for us.  Unbelief should be viewed as one of the greatest tragedies, completely preventable by undeterred faith in God marked by obedience.  I am saddened to think my life could at times be comparable to the Hebrews who witnessed the power of God yet turned their backs on what God had freely given them:  all they had to do was trust and enter in.  They would not do it, so God made it impossible for them to do it.  It seems they did not possess the spiritual insight of the author of Hebrews, for though they admitted they sinned at times unbelief was not something they repented of.

Believing and obeying, however, it not as easy as it may seem because it involves crucifixion:  first of Jesus Christ and then of our flesh so by faith the life of Jesus might live through us.  Unless we are born again we cannot surrender to this work of the Holy Spirit required for us to walk in victory purchased with the blood of Jesus.  The children of Israel had faith to follow Moses out of Egypt, to pass through the Red Sea on dry ground, but their lack of faith in God was exposed when they refused to enter the land of Canaan because of the reports of giants.  Compared to the giants 10 spies viewed themselves as grasshoppers, but the two men who kept their eyes on God and His promises saw them as bread.  Are you hungry to enter into the plans God has for you, to trust Him at any cost?  May the LORD cause us to follow the examples of these men and our Saviour Jesus Christ who were strengthened to obey.

The Pebble and O-Ring Lesson

Recently the jet in the pool has been blowing a lot of bubbles which suggested a leak somewhere in the system.  Today I turned off the pump and removed the clear lens on the secondary filter and discovered a small pebble had been lodged under the O-ring and prevented an airtight seal.  I thought to myself, the fix couldn't be this simple of a fix, right?  After removing the tiny stone I turned on the pump and I was pleased to see the water completely fill the secondary filter with bubble-free operation.

It amazed me a little pebble caused such a major problem which compromised the efficiency of the entire filtration system of the pool.  We've all experienced a pebble in our shoe, a tiny object if laying on the ground under normal circumstances would never grab our interest.  We can try to ignore the discomfort, but ultimately we need to stop what we're doing and remove the pebble which barks at us with each step.  If a little pebble can crack a windscreen at high speeds, alter our gait when dropped into our shoe or disrupt pool filtration, it follows even small things can make a negative impact in our lives.

When foreign objects find their ways into our pool filters, shoes, or eyes, if we desire to return to optimal performance we need to take a closer look.  It is one thing to take stock of the cleanliness of your hands or face, but it is far more important to consider our hearts.  Our hearts and minds can wander and little lies can begin to creep in and erode our faith and resolve.  Solomon wisely exhorted his son in Proverbs 4:20-27:  "My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. ²¹ Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; ²² for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. ²³ Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. ²⁴ Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. ²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. ²⁶ Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. ²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil."

Solomon urged his son to take personal inventory of what he looked at, what he thought about, and the words he spoke.  Just like bubbles in the jet revealed something was amiss so gossip, sharpness, and lies say something true about the condition of our hearts:  such deeds ought to be repented of but there is also hidden sin to be confessed and forsaken.  The temptation is to take stock of others, to measure our efforts against theirs.  Solomon said, "Ponder the path of your feet."  We are to walk in the good, old paths of righteousness blazed by Jesus and those who fear Him.  The pebble under the O-ring provided a tangible example of how a little sin trapped in our hearts leads to major problems that affect body and soul.

What Does the White Stone Say?

I enjoy books and films that make me think, that take me beyond words on a page or a plot unfolding on the screen to learn something.  It doesn't need to be a clearly defined moral like in a family sitcom or a G.I. Joe Public Service Announcement, but they prompt thoughts which open a window of the mind to draw in fresh air.  These books and films do not claim to be ultimate truth, but can at times stir up the truth we have learned and been assured of through scripture and put it to more effective personal use.

In the book The Problem of Pain, C.S. Lewis mentioned something I was already familiar with but stirred me to think it over.  The point he was making was not the main point taken.  This is a way the Holy Spirit often works in preaching, and I have observed many times He brings to hearer's hearts everlasting truth the preacher never anticipated.  C.S. Lewis wrote:

"The thing you long for summons you away from the self.  Even the desire for the thing lives only if you abandon it.  This is the ultimate law--the seed dies to live, the bread must be cast upon the waters, he that loses his soul will save it.  But the life of the seed, the finding of the bread, the recovery of the soul, are as real as the preliminary sacrifice.  Hence it is truly said of heaven "in heaven there is no ownership.  If any there took upon him to call anything his own, he would straightway be thrust out into hell and become an evil spirit."  But it is also said "To him that overcometh I will give a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."  What can be more a man's own that this new name which even in eternity remains a secret between God and him?  And what shall we take this secrecy to mean?  Surely, that each of the redeemed shall forever know and praise some one aspect of the divine beauty better than any other creature can.  Why else were individuals created, but that God, loving all infinitely, should love each differently?  And this difference, so far from impairing, floods with meaning the love of all blessed creatures from one another, the communion of the saints.  If all experienced God in the same way and returned Him an identical worship, the song of the Church triumphant would have no symphony, it would be like an orchestra in which all the instruments played the same note...For doubtless the continually successful, yet never completed, attempt by each soul to communicate its unique vision to all others (and that by means whereof earthly art and philosophy are but clumsy imitations) is also among the ends for which the individual was created." (Lewis, C. S. The Problem of Pain. Whitefriars Press Ltd., London and Tonbridge, 1942.)

Lewis' allusion to the passage grabbed my attention, the part when Jesus addressed the church in Pergamos in Revelation 2:17:  "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it."  This is numbered among the many promises Jesus makes to overcomers through faith in Him.  It is not a surprise Jesus Christ who makes all things new will provide a new revelation of Himself to His followers to cherish for eternity.  There is something intriguing and alluring about the secrecy, that God has something special just for me and just for you, a unique name for us to call Him--or even a name He calls us.  John was not precisely clear about whose name is written on the stone, but I am looking forward to discovering the secret personally in God's time!  The One who created, called, and chose us has a glorious future other believers will share but for each it will be a personally tailored experience.  It will be the culmination of God's awesome design, that the Saviour slain from the foundations of the earth would joyfully receive His inheritance and we, His redeemed creatures fashioned in His image, will become all He envisioned us to be together.  The saints may be lumped together as one for our convenient reference, but each have an intimate relationship with God that transcends all others.

We could spend our days wondering what the secret name could be or what we think it ought to be, but that misses the point entirely.  Through Christ we can overcome, and He has much He delights to reveal and give to us.  God has already given us a life, a body and personality we never dreamed of or could imagine in the womb of our mothers, and our eternal state will be just as other-worldly and infinitely better than life in or outside a uterus on earth.  The good God who created us and is preparing a place for us to be with Him forever knows perfectly what we need and even the desires of our hearts.  Free from the sins of greed, envy, and covetousness we will be wholly content without the impulse to compare our whites stone with others.  We will eat of the hidden manna He provides and be given at least one secret name revealed by God no one else will know.  This shows me we will not be all-knowing as God is but confirms eternity will be a time of glorious discovery of God as we fellowship with Him, self abandoned to His praise and adoration because He is worthy.

Told or Taught?

Have you ever been in a situation when you wanted God to tell you what to do?  It recently occurred to me telling is not the same as teaching.  A good teacher does not simply tell their pupil what to do at every moment but leads them to learn the correct way for themselves.  The person who wants to be told what to do may not even be teachable.  To be teachable we must humble ourselves and go beyond following a directive to having our minds and hearts changed to align with the master.

Growing up I found 10-pin bowling fun and enjoyable, but at a point it became frustrating when my efforts did not translate to improved scores.  When I took a 10-pin bowling course in university I decided to throw out everything I thought I knew and learned an entirely new system and approach.  My education did not immediately result in better scores but it was not long before my competency and consistency improved.  One does not need to take a course or have a coach to roll a high score, but for me it made an enormous difference and unlocked potential to do so on a consistent basis.

God is infinitely more for the believer than a "life coach" or a means to achieve our goals:  He is our Life!  His Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.  Sometimes we are desperate to know what route we ought to take and beg, "Just tell me the way to go!"  As open as it sounds to a clear directive from God this may come from a proud posture, an unwillingness to humble ourselves to be taught.  We aren't interested in personal change or taking time to learn anything:  we want out of our quandary immediately and are seeking an easy and relatively painless fix.  We think it would be loving for God to show us the way out, but it is because God is loving and patient He may allow the situation to continue for our ultimate benefit.  We imagine like children in primary school if we learn the lesson quickly recess can begin, but God has given us all the time in the world and is in no hurry.

Hear what David prayed in Psalm 27:11:  "Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies."  David did not say, "Tell me what to do" but said "Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me..."  There is a huge difference between asking God what you should do and asking Him to teach and lead you in His way.  I am convinced God rejoices when people come to Him, not to escape a trial or speedily solve our dilemma, but because we love Him, want to know Him, and be led in His ways.  God is faithful to hear the cries of the humble and will instruct us in His ways seeing Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Unlike the bowling example where gained proficiency led to less instruction and correction by my coach, the more we learn God's ways the more we learn to seek Him and rely upon Him.  As we follow God's leading, we have the benefit of continually drawing near to Him.  Those who are content to be told what to do miss out on the intimate relationship God desires with all His children.  Those who have been taught God's ways gain knowledge which extends beyond temporary circumstances to develop admiration and awe of our great God and Saviour.  Are you teachable or just wanting to be told?  I am grateful to have such a loving Father in heaven who loves us, is patient to teach us and faithful to lead in His ways.