From Gary... Beyond the external...

This picture is a revelation.  It is the inside of an ice cave; something you would never see on the outside, as sunlight would make everything appear white.  So, the concept of a revelation is appropriate!  But, I wonder, what are people like on the inside?  Probably, they are a lot like this cave- a mixture of all sorts of things; both good and bad.  And what is on the inside IS SOMETIMES VISIBLE ON THE OUTSIDE.  How does God judge this complexity of human thought, desires, wishes and actions? Fairly, of course!!!  Take a few moments and read this passage to get a STARTING POINT of understanding...

Hebrews, Chapter 4

1 Let us fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest.  2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn’t profit them, because it wasn’t mixed with faith by those who heard.  3 For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest”; although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.  4 For he has said this somewhere about the seventh day, “God rested on the seventh day from all his works”;  5 and in this place again, “They will not enter into my rest.”

  6  Seeing therefore it remains that some should enter therein, and they to whom the good news was before preached failed to enter in because of disobedience,  7 he again defines a certain day, today, saying through David so long a time afterward (just as has been said), 
“Today if you will hear his voice,
don’t harden your hearts.”

  8  For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day.  9 There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God.  10 For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.  11 Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.  12 For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

Of the Israelites who came from Egypt, only two made it to the promised land (Joshua and Caleb)- all the rest died in the wilderness.  Only two people out of an estimated two million!!!  I believe Christianity gives A MUCH HIGHER PROBABILITY OF ENTERING GOD'S REST THAN MERE OBEDIENCE/DISOBEDIENCE TO A COMMAND EVER DID!!!   Why? Because, with Christianity, the emphasis is more on the motives for actions, rather than compliance with a hard and fast LAW.  And, so we find ourselves considering the last part of verse twelve above.  God knows; HE knows EVERYTHING.  As deep as one can imagine and beyond- that is HIS level of understanding.  Somehow, that is accomplished through his word.  That process will have to be explained to me in heaven, because, frankly, I don't know.  What I do know is that we to consistently examine ourselves as to why we do the things we do and to make sure our actions and attitudes are as godly as we can make them (and pray for forgiveness for our shortcomings) .  Anything less is dangerous territory!!!  Today, do what you need to do, but do it for the right reasons, because God sees through your externals, right into the kaleidoscope of the essence that is you.  I pray that HE finds absolutely no blackness of heart there and that you will be eternally blessed by his presence.  Until that time "1 Let us fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest."