Receiving The Priiledge Of HIs Rest

But with whom was He grieved

forty years? Was it not with them

that had sinned, whose carceases

feel in the wildness? And to whom

aware he that they should not enter

into His rest, but to them that 

believed not? So we see that they 

could not enter in because of

unbelief. 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.

Hebrews 3:17-19; 4:1

     Belief, to believe, to have the graces of Jesus Christ, to have the comfort of His promises, of all He is and will do, to become partakers with Him for eternity. All of God's holy ones, those who believe in Jesus Christ are privileged , those who hold that privilege bodily, with perseverance and open profession, and practices daily this faith, this belief living the life of righteousness are blessed beyond measure. An Authentic Christian meaning they hold Authentic Christian Faith are diligent, watchful, keeping them from apostasy, from those who seem to speak truth but when examined find that any truth that may be used is used to veil heresy. This spirit that has joined with the Spirit of God causing them to follow the ways of God are to be maintained and be evidenced unto to the end. Perseverance in one's faith is evidence of sincerity of their faith. When one's faith is founded upon the truth of God's word and not in a man, or some doctrine that seems so good, so godly, but is founded upon false teaching, even heresy, then that one will be a true and faithful witness and servant of God. 

     This example of the Hebrews when they left Egypt is such a good example for us for they left with great hopes and with some courage but when things got tough, they wanted to return back to what they were leaving even though they were harshly treated. This looking back led them to disbelieve in Moses, in God, in what they were doing in faith, the past seemed better. This disbelief led them to find excitement in practices that were not of God, to even make a bull to worship, given up of their means, their gold to just have something to worship that made them feel as though they were pleasing God. They were not they were pleasing themselves, they no longer held fast to their faith according to God, they found another god to worship as that god was the true God. They were left to wander 40 years and not allowed to enter into God's rest. 

      God never promised a successful life, a good life without trials and persecutions. No, in fact He told us the opposite: "Werein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ (1Peter 1:6-7). You may find it hard to rejoice in the middle of a trial or temptation but this rejoicing is forever, the trial but for a moment. When you meet Jesus you will then if you persevere will be found praising Him and honoring Him and giving Him glory for you are with Him and the past, well it is past. Also Peter added: Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings: that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy" (1Peter 4:12-13). 

     Be not like those Hebrews that when trials came they turned back, they disbelieved and lost the joy of God His rest for them. You too have a rest in God and that rest begins now, and continues into eternity when the full realization of His rest will be manifested. God did not promise that you will never have trials or temptations and take them from you, but He did say He would take you through them, that is if you allow belief, your faith, this Authentic Christian Faith to give you strength to persevere. You must persevere not God, you, me, we must exercise this faith we say we have and if we do, then we will enter into God's rest, and we will see that God took us through even if we have not seen Him work. You are a child of God, a partaker with Jesus Christ. What more do you want than that?  

And all the people answered together, 

     and said, All that they LORD 

hath spoken we will do. 

     And Moses returned the words 

of the people unto the LORD.

                       Exodus 19:9

Believe upon the Lord and be saved

Richard L. Crumb