WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
Hebrews 4:1-11
Pastor Jim Bohrer
June 1, 2008
MAY 28th
WELLINGTON, New Zealand-
Grant Stubbs and Owen Wilson, were flying up the sloping valley of Pelorus Sound in New Zealand admiring the beautiful panoramic view. Then there was a cough, “Bless you Owen.” “For what Grant?” Your cough. I didn’t cough. Oh, then there was a wheeze and a sputter then silence as their micro light plane engine died. Both men turned out to be Christians. They told the Associated Press that they both immediately prayed to God for help.
He said he prayed during the ill-fated flight Sunday that the tiny craft would get over the top of a ridge and that they would find a landing site that was not too steep — or in the nearby sea. Wilson said that the pair would have been in deep trouble if the fuel had run out five minutes earlier. "If it had to run out, that was the place to be," he said. "There was an instantaneous answer to prayer as we crossed the ridge and there was an airfield — I didn’t know it existed till then." After Wilson glided the powerless craft to a landing on the grassy strip, the pair noticed they were beside a 20-foot-tall sign that read, "Jesus is Lord — The Bible."
"When we saw that, we started laughing," Stubbs said.
Friends, that is a beautiful story of the Lord working in the lives of two of his children. But, they were never in any real danger. They are Christians and no matter what happened, they would be with Him forever. Unfortunately, the majority of the world and I believe, even the majority of those attend religious services are waiting for a sign from God before they will put their faith in Him.
If you are here today and you cannot confidently say that you know Him, what are you waiting for?
If you are here today and you say you know Him, but you don’t tell anyone else about Him, what are you waiting for?
Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,
"So I declared on oath in my anger, ’They shall never enter my rest.’"
And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: "And on the seventh day God rested from all his work." 5 And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my rest."
6 It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. 7 Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before:
"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.
I. THE SCRIPTURE DOES NOT SPEAK AGAINST THE ASSURANCE OF SALVATION BUT AGAINST THE PRESUMPTION OF SALVATION.
A. The Scripture does not say, “fall out of rest” but rather “fall short.” It does not say, “They lost their faith in the message,” but rather, it “was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.”
Satan loves to trick us with appearances and politeness. Let’s not question our salvation. Let’s not examine our faith. Let’s not see if
1. Professing is not the same as Possessing Christ. (Matthew 7:20-23)
I’m a Christian syndrome in America. Be careful of the false confidence offered with the easy believism in America. While receiving Christ is very simple, the result will be a changed life of belief, faithfulness, being a ministering church member etc... Spoke with a young man this week... do you know the Lord? O yes. I got saved in lock up with such and such preacher. I said, “Well, if you died today where would you go?” I hope heaven... BINGO. Folks, if anyone ever says, “I’m a Christian and I hope to go to heaven.” You can be certain that 99.9% of the time they are not a Christian. They are LOST. Don’t get angry at me for saying that... I said, young man, may I share with you some verses from the Bible. I did, I shared with him the need for repentance and a changed life.
I said, I believe that you agreed that Jesus’ offer was a good thing, but did you really agree with the life he offered? Have you made Him boss of your life? What do you mean? Well do you go to church? Excuses... none which are valid---He is King, not you; you bow in worship to Him. You still partying... having fun... His smirk answered. Friend do you want to ask God to forgive your sin through the Cross and Resurrection, and make Him boss of your life? Well, since you put it that way, I guess I really am not a Christian, and I really do not want Christ right now. I really do not want to give up my fun.
Well, for those of you who still think, he’s judging people’s faith. Listen folks Faith in Christ is a Certain thing. You either have it or you do not have it. Being part of God’s family is a certain thing, you either are part of it or you are not. 1 John 5:11-13.
Listen the Bohrer family is going on a trip this summer. We are going to see family. The kids have been told that we are going to see Grandpa Bohrer and others. Now, wouldn’t you think it absolutely crazy if you were to talk to Abbey about her summer and she acted uncertain if “she” would get to go with the family to go see family? Abbey is the Bohrer family going to New Jersey to see grandpa. Yes, I have absolute faith in that. Abbey, are you going with the family? “Well, I hope so, but I am not sure if they are taking me or not. I’d like to go, I hope to go, but I am not sure.” She is part of my family, she will go the same direction as the family.
Now for those of you who still think I am too harsh on our wavering responders. I just have one question for those of you who are married. Ladies, how would you respond if someone walked up to your husband while you were there and asked, “Sir, are you married?” And then your husband looks uncertain and says, “I am not completely sure I am married. I hope I am married.” You would hit that lug wouldn’t you. Marriage is a certain thing. You can know that you are married with certainty. Why? Marriage is a covenant that you make on a certain day. You both make promises to each other and you are both committed to each other. So it is with salvation. God has clearly stated that if you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and rose again proving his power and Lordship that you become part of His family. You can know and will know if you are part of his family.
Your actions and direction in life will bear witness to that fact. As a husband I wear the ring my wife gave to me. It doesn’t make me married but it symbolizes I am. The same with my wife. As the Bohrer father, I go home to my house and kiss my kids goodnight etc... So it is with a child of God, she will go with her family and spend time with the Father and her brothers and sisters.
2. Religious Comfort is not the same as Spiritual Conversion! (John 3:3)
Nicodemus took comfort in his religion; he went to church, just being around spiritual things does not make you a Christian. Just memorizing Scripture does not make you a believer. You need to be born into the family of God through faith!
3. Proximity to Christians does not mean you have a Personal relationship. (Rev. 3:20)
The warning in Revelation was in the context of the Church at ... The warning in Hebrews is to those who are hearing the message and appear to be “in” but because of a lack of faith are not really part of the family. My grass right now is cut and it all seems like grass, but I have discovered that given time, right now, just a week, weeds show themselves for what they really are. Now at first, I really could not tell a difference and maybe they even thought they are OK, but in time they reveal themselves.
B. True Faith results in an obedient life. (“Make every effort.” John 3:36, NAS)
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.
Sometimes people worry.
II. DEATH WARNS US OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF SIN. (Luke 13:4-5)
A. Hesitation is Foolish.
B. Stagnation is Fatal.
1. For You.
2. For Others.
Story of the Train and the Trial of the lamp man. Fatality for many on the train and the engineer/pilot. We cannot ask the engineer why he did not stop, he is dead. “Did you wave the lamp? Yes. 3xs Did you wave the lamp. Less and less certain. Whether he asked, one time, three times, 1000 times the answer is the same if you did. Why were you so uncertain. Well the truth is that I did wave the lamp. But, I was busy doing something else before the danger came and thought I had enough time to get to the lamp and light it. But, by the time I got to the lamp the train was upon me. So, I grabbed the lamp without lighting it and ran out and waved it in the darkness...
Going through the motions is not enough because when the time comes and it counts. If its not there, its too late!
