A few weeks ago I discussed the topic Does God Change? I would like to build upon that earlier post with a look at Hebrews 6. In this chapter, we find an inspiring verse on Hope - something we've been talking about extensively on this blog. It's amazing how God works - certain verses in this passage caught my attention long before I read the verse on hope..... which only cemented firmly in my mind the loving way in which He guides us.
<Side note: Ever heard of your reticular activator? Definition: the reticular activator is a part of the brain that stays on alert. It's job is to make you notice some things and ignore other things (if you noticed everything, you'd be too distracted to function). When you buy a VW, it seems like the whole world has bought VWs, because you notice them everywhere. That's the reticular activator at work. I believe the Lord gave us this function to help us in our study of Him & His character. The more He reveals a particular aspect of His nature to us, the more we notice it in His word as we read! Our reticular activator at work. :) >
A common thread among recent posts has been to take hold of His promises. When we know what His promises are for us, for our future, for our health, for our family..... for whatever is a concern to us, we then have something {or better phrased: Someone} to hope in. When we have hope, we live life to the fullest and without regret. The writer of Hebrews is explaining that God made a promise to Abraham. And Abraham knew He would perform it because:
- He promised it
- He swore that He would keep His promise
- God does not lie
"For instance, there was God’s promise to Abraham: God took an oath in his own name, since there was no one greater to swear by, that he would bless Abraham again and again, and give him a son and make him the father of a great nation of people. Then Abraham waited patiently until finally God gave him a son, Isaac, just as he had promised. When a man takes an oath, he is calling upon someone greater than himself to force him to do what he has promised or to punish him if he later refuses to do it; the oath ends all argument about it. God also bound himself with an oath, so that those he promised to help would be perfectly sure and never need to wonder whether he might change his plans. He has given us both his promise and his oath, two things we can completely count on, for it is impossible for God to tell a lie. Now all those who flee to him to save them can take new courage when they hear such assurances from God; now they can know without doubt that he will give them the salvation he has promised them. This certain hope of being saved is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls, connecting us with God himself behind the sacred curtains of heaven, where Christ has gone ahead to plead for us from his position as our High Priest, with the honor and rank of Melchizedek." Hebrews 6:13-19
Now we know that this passage is referring to our salvation, but God is the same {yesterday, today & forever} and if this truth {that God does not lie & fulfills His promises} relates to Salvation, it also relates to all aspects of life. When we find and hold fast to the Promises of God {for us} in scripture, we have assurance that He will perform them. Perhaps not in the way we think He should - usually not when we think He should - and more often not how we think He should...... but nonetheless, He will perform them. We must be very careful to keep ourselves from fulfilling His promises in our own way...... remember Abraham and Ishmael? I find that I must so often put aside my idea of what His promises mean, and wait expectantly for Him to bring them to pass.......... in His way, in His time.
"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall not he do it? or hath he spoken, and shall not make it good?" Numbers 23:19
"That by two immutable things {his oath and his promise} in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us." Hebrews 6:18
And then we come to that verse so often quoted. I wonder, do we really grasp all that it means? When taken in context of this whole passage of scripture, it takes on a whole new meaning. {at least it did for me!}
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