To Those Who Wait

You all have heard the old saying, "Good things come to those who wait."  My parents probably said this so I would develop patience.  I lacked patience in my teen years, and I probably retain that trait now.  In fact, patience is a fruit of the Spirit.  But, we might take this trait too far.  Patience and procrastination are sometimes close bedfellows.  And there is an urgency to Scripture, as God calls us, leads us, and warns us that time is moving way too fast.  One of my friends says, "Daylight's a burning!"  He is right!

The writer of Hebrews quotes the Holy Spirit, saying, "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for 40 years they saw what I did (Hebrews 3:7-9)."  Responding to God is an urgent matter.  Failure to respond is likened to "the rebellion."

Let's break this down.  "The rebellion" here was a time when stiff-necked people were led by Moses in the wilderness.  God provided manna ... the people complained.  God provided quail ... the people grumbled.  Though God delivered the people over and over again, they continued to gripe, moan, and reflect back on slavery as "the good old days."  God, in this story from Numbers 11, calls all of this dissatisfaction and complaining rebellion.  Because that is surely what it is!

But the operative part of this passage relates to the word "today. "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." I wonder if these two points are connected because they are related. Hardened hearts, the urgency of God's plan, and hearing God's voice relate directly to the negative aspects of "blowing off" what God is saying.

Let me highlight this with a few questions.  Has a pastor's message moved you?  How did you respond?  Do you see a need in the church?  How did you respond?  Do you know God calls His people into regular fellowship?  How do you respond?  Did you hear the call to allow God to use you and your giftedness?  How do you respond?  If, in all of these opportunities, you waited, you are part of what Hebrews calls, "rebellion."

Sunday, we will speak truth into the rebellion of this world.  We will sing grace, into the hardness of this world.  And, we will speak Jesus into a world that needs Him.  Will you come?  Or, will you wait for a better time?  "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion."  Great, and true advice!  Randy