A verse of Scripture that has fascinating implications is Hebrews 4:10:

“For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.” (Note carefully the capitalization of the pronouns.)

Of course, this points us back to God’s Sabbath Day of rest following His six days of creation, as laid out in Genesis 1. However, a lot more went on in God’s plan and purpose before He came to that phase of His program having to do with mankind. Psalm 90:2 tells us this:

“Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever You had formed the earth and the world,
even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”

Back in those eons of eternity God was preparing some foundational things that would affect our relationship with Him, such as these:

“…in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began…” (Titus 1:2).

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:3-6).

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Romans 8:28-30).

There are other passages that tell of this, as well. Another Scripture that is fascinating to think on is Hebrews 1:1-3, followed by 11:1-3:

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…”

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”

Now look at Colossians 1:15-17, where Paul tells us who is holding all things together:

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things,and in Him all things consist.”

Again, there’s the underlining for emphasis on those points. The point I am making is that He spoke all things into existence by the word of His mouth, and it was the eternal Jesus Christ who did it. He said it and it was, and as long as He keeps it “said,,” it will remain in place, according to the foreknown and planned purposes that He has. The fixed stability of that spoken word is found in Mark 13:31:

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”

These are a lot of Bible quotations, but to arrive at what is meant by the faithfulness of God, we must know the background for it.

So what does this have to do with “entering His rest,” as Hebrews 4:10 mentions? It reads that God had ceased from His own works. They were done before time began and during the six days of creation, and they were done  by the enduring power of His own Word.

The obvious confidence and certainty of His Word speaks of faith. When our faith, and our works also, rests in the finished work of Christ, and our flesh ceases trying to input something into the relationship we have with Christ, that rest of faith will begin to be experienced.

It is clear in Scripture that faith must precede and produce good works, and good works have no part in our salvation, just as Ephesians 2:8-10 tell us:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast, for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

In a seemingly contradictory directive, Paul tells us, in Philippians 2:12-13, to “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” (KJV)

Our part is to allow the Spirit of God freedom to produce that life of faith in us by our obedience. Galatians 5:16 tells us, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

Much controversy has continued over the centuries about the issue of faith and works. Even Martin Luther, who broke away from the Roman Catholic Church on that issue, had difficulty with the second chapter of James. In that chapter the writer concludes, in verse 17, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

Then he illustrates that principle with the example of Abraham offering his son, Isaac, in obedience to God (Genesis 22), and concludes it by asking, “Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?”

Perhaps an ending, such as “by works his faith was proven,” would clarify the statement and be consistent with other Scriptures, as Paul’s words in Romans 4:2-3 sheds additional light on the subject:

“If Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’”

We are familiar with the statement, “You can know them by their fruits” (in Matthew 7:16). It works both ways—for good fruit and bad fruit. Later, in Matthew 7:21-23, we are told it is not good works that is the determination, but “he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”  And John tells us, in 1 John 3:23, “And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another…”

How is it going with me, you ask. Well, it is a daily thing. Jesus said, “Take up your cross daily and follow Me,” and that was no casual remark in Luke 9:23. I am reminded of an observation my younger brother made in regard to his semi-truck-tractor he operated. It was the snub-nosed type and he said, “If I have an accident, I am the first one there!”

As in my case—and yours—with the old nature a constant presence in our lives, when the flesh (that old man) tries to take over and fulfill its lusts, I am the first one there! So, coming to the full realization that I am still a sinner, though saved and forgiven, I must maintain that fellowship with the Lord by claiming 1 John 1:9 (the confession and forgiveness promise).

The key is to remember 1 Corinthians 10:12, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall,” and learn to practice Proverbs 4:31 on a consistent basis:

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”

May it be so with you, too, and may your rest in the Lord be exceedingly fulfilling.

The words in my title were the first of any substantive content from the lips of President Barack Hussein Obama at the 2016 annual Correspondents’ dinner in Washington on April 30. [1] Did any of the news media pick up on it?  Not that I could tell, even on any level. It does tell us what is highest on his mind these days, however.

“The end of the Republic,” is the dedicated purpose for which Obama was put in office, according to the core movers and shakers in the controlling establishment who are now becoming more and more exposed for what they are—there in Foggy Bottom, D.C. [2]

After carefully  watching the scenario unfold for over almost sixty years, it is my opinion that any  totally objective investigation into the various assassinations of presidents and other high level government personnel would lead in all cases back to that self-serving citadel of moral corruption. The objective is control, total control of mankind and the world for the glorious vision of a New World Order where they, the elite— by self-definition, will rule over the bondservants of their bidding.

What a scathing rebuke of that element of our society, right? Considerably worse than driving moneychangers out of the temple, I’m sure. That cesspool of degenerate mankind is properly identified in Romans 3:18, where it says, “There is no fear of God before their eyes!”

It must be a terrible thing to not know what you don’t know and even worse, to not know that you don’t know what you don’t know. To continue on a pathway leading to absolute destruction and heavy judgment is an awful thought. Mark 8:36 asks this question:

“What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?”

The passage goes on to say, “Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” But man has no spiritual resources of the God-kind. He has none. Redemption through the grace of Jesus Christ is the only way.

When Daniel prayed to learn the meaning of the king’s dream, recorded in Daniel 2:20-22, he acknowledged this about the Lord:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His and He changes the times and the seasons. He removes kings and raises up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things. He knows what is in the darkness and light dwells with Him.”

Did you note in that passage that “He removes kings and raises up kings?” He does that with presidents, too. It appears, too, that He does it for at least one purpose, as told in Psalm 75:6-8:

“For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south, but God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another. For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is fully mixed, and He pours it out.  Surely its dregs shall all the wicked of the earth drainand drink down.”

How many will hear these words from the lips of Jesus, “Depart from Me, for I never knew you,” as they proceed to step into isolated “outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

We read in the last part of Romans 1 that when one turns his back on God, rejecting Him for their own pursuits, He then turns away from them, giving them up to their own destiny. If one turns away from God in knowing rejection, the only place they can go is to the embrace of Lucifer and his stronghold of degradation and despair.

Yet, John 3:17 says that Jesus did not come to condemn but to save, and God says He “does not desire that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

When Obama campaigned in 2008 on the main issue of “fundamentally transforming America forever,” he was telling America exactly what he was up to, and what his backers had put him in place to do. Yet, the news media did not investigate him. He was off-limits; it was not politically correct. His defense is so faulty, being confirmed by his accomplishments in these seven and one-half years of his administration. It is further confirmed by that leading statement for this article, “The end of the Republic has never looked better!”

If someone wanted to “fundamentally transform Christianity forever” (and “someone” definitely does want that), what would he do? He would attack the fundamentals of the faith. High on the list would be these:

·         Deny and attempt to destroy the deity of Christ;

·         Demand that there are more ways to heaven than just through Christ;

·         Introduce idolatry into the worshipping process;

·         Induce compromise with other religions by political correctness claims;

·         Magnify and deluge the churches with false prophets and teachers to confuse and disillusion believers;

·         Make a mockery of the true tenants of the faith in light of civil rights and free speech.

There are more, no doubt. Now, let these thoughts lay alongside the goal of “fundamentally transforming American forever.” The nation’s fundamentals are based on the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, with the first ten amendments standing out.

We see the liberally motivated justices of the Supreme Court hardly blinking an eye, apparently, to cases before the Court and voting their motivations. Then we even see the Chief Justice change the role of the Supreme Court of interpreting the law before it and changing the point being argued in a case before the Court—the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”).

Psalm 11:13 asks the question, “If the foundations are destroyed, what canthe righteous do?” It looks like the two targets of “fundamental transformation” are America and Christianity in America, and they are inseparably intertwined.

Here are some ideas:

·         Make a personal, private rededication to the Lord to be a “contender for the faith that was once delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3).

·         We can pray for wisdom, basing it on the promise for wisdom in James 1:5-8:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

·         We can recognize that wisdom if it has these qualities: “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17).

·         We must revitalize our knowledge of the Word and the gospel—the whole counsel of God. Read again, over and over, Peter’s declaration in 2 Peter 1:12-21. It is practically his “death-bed” testimony and confirmation of Bible truths.

·         We can follow this directive: “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (Psalm 107:2).

·         We can take a lesson from Acts 5:27-32, where Peter says “we should obey God rather than men.”

·         We can take comfort from Matthew 13:5-7: “Let your conduct bewithout covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’”

·         Let the Holy Spirit guide us in what to say, as told in Luke 12:11-12:“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

God’s cup of wrath surely must be filled nearly to its brim, and Obama has unknowingly announced its looming presence!

End Notes

[1] Obama: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYB-NuW_SRo

[2] Watch this link as multiple world leaders advocate for a New World Order with a one-world government: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkNH1bVg3HA