For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end (Heb. 3:14).
This promise is found in the middle of a dissertation regarding the Israelites in their wilderness wandering. They had been blessed and led of God toward the Land of Promise, but many of them drew back in their hearts to the land of bondage. They provoked God by their unbelief and sins. For 40 years they had seen His mighty works, yet because of their attitude of rebellion the Lord said of them, "They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways" (Heb. 3:10). They departed from the living God; therefore He departed from them, and they died in the wilderness. But their children, who did not rebel against God, went into Canaan.
Today God is leading His people to their heavenly rest, and they are to learn from the failure of the ancient wanderers. We are warned against "an evil heart of unbelief" (verse 12). We are urged to "exhort one another daily, while it is called Today," and are reminded of the "deceitfulness of sin" (verse 13).
Our Christian experience is not like a coat to be put on today and taken off tomorrow. If our confidence, our faith, is genuine, it is a part of us. As the songwriter puts it: "It's in my heart." Confidence is trust. We are to trust in the Lord as long as we live. Then we shall be strong in Him to meet all life's trials. "In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength" (Isa. 30:15). To be partakers of Christ here and hereafter, we must have faith, which is "the substance ["confidence," margin] of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1).
"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise" (Heb. 10:35, 36).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them" (Ps. 22:4).
This promise is found in the middle of a dissertation regarding the Israelites in their wilderness wandering. They had been blessed and led of God toward the Land of Promise, but many of them drew back in their hearts to the land of bondage. They provoked God by their unbelief and sins. For 40 years they had seen His mighty works, yet because of their attitude of rebellion the Lord said of them, "They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways" (Heb. 3:10). They departed from the living God; therefore He departed from them, and they died in the wilderness. But their children, who did not rebel against God, went into Canaan.
Today God is leading His people to their heavenly rest, and they are to learn from the failure of the ancient wanderers. We are warned against "an evil heart of unbelief" (verse 12). We are urged to "exhort one another daily, while it is called Today," and are reminded of the "deceitfulness of sin" (verse 13).
Our Christian experience is not like a coat to be put on today and taken off tomorrow. If our confidence, our faith, is genuine, it is a part of us. As the songwriter puts it: "It's in my heart." Confidence is trust. We are to trust in the Lord as long as we live. Then we shall be strong in Him to meet all life's trials. "In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength" (Isa. 30:15). To be partakers of Christ here and hereafter, we must have faith, which is "the substance ["confidence," margin] of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1).
"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise" (Heb. 10:35, 36).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them" (Ps. 22:4).
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