For the earth which drinketh in the rain
that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth
forth herbs meet for them by whom
it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
but that which beareth thorns and briers
is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing;
whose end is to be burned.
Hebrews 6:7-8
This illustration has a two-fold application: 1. The earth is blessed when good things are come upon it, a blessing from God for all good is from God, that is, as all things are ordained of God He allows means to accomplish His purpose and in this case we are blessed for God provided a means to grow food. Do good and good things will happen to you. 2. If a person lives a life of bad, a thing which God has also ordained, that is, He will not put His hand out to save you from that which you know is wrong. He will allow it, and by your bad choice you will not receive a blessing of good, and only have in the end destruction. The writer of Hebrews goes on to explain his illustration: "But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak" (Hebrew 6:9). God in creating this world provided what is needed for this world, rain, sun, fog, trees, water, etc.... all that is needed for life. You are blessed even if you are not a Christian for all participate in this blessing of God. An Authentic Christian has a blessing above that which all men are blessed and that blessing is salvation. This salvation does not come about by any of your works no matter how good they are, but many are blessed do to your good works. This general blessing can come from anyone, Christian or non-Christian, but, if they come by means of your faith in Jesus Christ, in God who blesses His people with salvation, then there is a special blessing for anyone who will receive that blessing. As James stated: "Even so faith, if it hath not works is dead, being alone, Yea, a man may say, Thu hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works and I will shew thee my faith by my works" (James 2:17-18). To say that dead faith is alone is to say that it is done for reasons other than Authentic Christian Faith, it for self aggrandizement, and not for and with Jesus Christ. Out of our Authentic Christian Faith comes authentic works, works that will have a blessing from God for it is done with God, not for Him, but with Him and accomplishes His purpose, a purpose to reveal Himself and His salvation. Apathy does not do anyone any good, but too many Christians have become apathetic or are working in some Christian service with other reasons than to be a true Authentic Christian in service for God, for they do this service hoping to get some applause. God sees the heart: "For is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shewed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Hebrews 6:10-12). This work of love is for the name of God, for Jesus Christ Who is God, come in the flesh, showing us how to love and this will take and does take diligence, not for some time but for all time until you reach heaven. That is the promise of God, again, not do to your works but by the faithful and true promise of God given before you did anything: "For when God made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He swear by Himself, saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee" (Hebrews 6:13-14). God made a promise and that promise has the highest surety, God Himself and we can be assured then that God Who is true to Himself will keep His promises. So why will we not? "And so, after he had endured, he obtained the promises. For men verily swear by the greater; and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec" (Hebrews 6:15-20).
Question: Have you fled, fled from this old world that is coming to destruction, and in the present is attempting to destroy you now? Are you fleeing to God or from God? Are you laying hold of the sure promises of God? Is God your anchor? We have Jesus Christ Who died for our sins, and did so willingly, not as some created creature, rather, it was God who paid this debt for you by Himself, through His Wisdom Who became the Only Begotten Son of God. Are you willing to set aside your hopes for success in this world to be successful for God, for Jesus Christ? We all must make a choice and I pray that your choice will be for God, for His Son, and lay hold of the greatest of all promises, everlasting life.
Give thanks unto the LORD,
for He is good: for His
mercy endureth forever.
Let the redeemed of the LORD
say so, whom He hath redeemed
from the hand of the enemy
Psalm 107:1-2
God redeemed you: live for Him
Richard L. Crumb
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