As Abraham was called out to seek a home that God prepared for him, a land that he and his offspring would eventually inherit, so are believers called out of this world that we may one day enter our eternal home. By faith, Abraham obeyed God and lived out his calling, as did his son Isaac and grandson, Jacob. Jacob’s descendents left behind 400 years of slavery in Egypt and wandered in the desert 40 years before their offspring, by faith, entered their promised land. We wander in our own wilderness today. The world we live in is not our permanent home. We seek the resting place God has prepared for us and, by faith, we shall enter if we hold fast to the end.
Hebrews 3:1-6 “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after. But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.”
2 Peter 1:10 “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”
We are called to be the house (family) of God. 1 Peter 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 2:19-22 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
Philippians 2:12 admonishes us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. As I move forward, I hope to shed light on why the children of Israel who left Egypt, those who were literally redeemed by the blood of the lamb, did not enter their promised land. Their experience is an example for us today.
Hebrews 3:7-8 “Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness.”
We have a calling. If we have accepted Yeshua as our Lord and Savior, we have the hope of salvation and eternal life. However, it is not to be taken lightly. Our salvation is something that is worked out over our lifetime, through faith and obedience. Those to whom the gospel was first preached did not enter in because of unbelief. May we learn from their experience, that we may enter into our rest.
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