WE ARE NOT IN HEAVEN YET

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-13)

Devotion 20 of 37

THE EXAMPLE OF ISRAEL

Our current devotional theme, "We Are Not In Heaven Yet," is intended to clarify the status of the people of God while they remain in this world. My purpose is NOT to cast doubt upon the reality of our acceptance in the Son, or suggest there is any possibility of inimical forces plucking us out of the hands of the Son and the Father (John 10:28-29). Faith IS the victory that overcomes the world, and is invincible against all of our foes (1 John 5:4-5). There is not a single flaming arrow in the arsenal of darkness the "shield of faith" is not able to quench, and nothing is able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Eph 6:16; Rom 8:35-39).

All of these realities, like being the children of God (Gal 3:26), are held by faith. We are in the process of being changed from one stage of glory to another, until we are finally "like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:1-2). When believed, these realities lend themselves to confidence and assurance, which are Kingdom requisites. The Holy Spirit, who speaks precisely, says, "But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, IF WE HOLD FAST THE CONFIDENCE AND REJOICING OF THE HOPE FIRM UNTO THE END." And again, "For we are made partakers of Christ, IF WE HOLD THE BEGINNING OF OUR CONFIDENCE STEADFAST UNTO THE END" (Heb 3:6,14). I am persuaded no child of God is willing to take Jehudi's penknife and cut these texts from their Bible (Jer 36:23). Neither should they allow their theology to neutralize them, or make them appear unnecessary.

With these verities in mind, the Lord speaks to His children concerning the ancient people Israel. Speaking through Moses, David, Paul, and Jude, the Holy Spirit draws our attention to the children of Israel who escaped Egypt, but did not get into Canaan. Both Paul and Jude call upon those in Christ to consider that situation in order to avoid having the same thing happen to them. The arguments are stated with unusual strength, and the conclusions drawn are beyond controversy.

THE TENTH CHAPTER OF FIRST CORINTHIANS

Verses one through twelve of this chapter concerns a chosen people–selected by God "above all people that are upon the face of the earth" (Deut 7:6). They were chosen to be a "kingdom of priests" to God (Ex 19:6), and "He loved the people" (Deut 33:3). They are referred to as "our fathers," showing the relevance of their situation to ours. Here is what is said of them.

1. They were ALL under cloud and ALL passed through the sea (verse 1).
2. They were ALL baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea (verse 2).
3. They ALL ate the same spiritual meat (verse 3).
4. They ALL drank from the same spiritual Rock, which was Christ (verse 4).
5. God was not well pleased with many of THEM, overthrowing them in the wilderness (verse 5).
6. These things are examples for believers to help US in NOT wanting evil things as they did (verse 6).
7. By their example, WE are admonished NOT to be idolaters as some of them (verse 7).
8. Through them WE are also exhorted NOT to commit fornication as some of them, which caused the death of 23,000 in a single day (verse 8).
9. Their example is intended to also teach US not to tempt Christ as some of them did, and were destroyed by deadly serpents (verse 9).
10. From the Israelites WE are to learn NOT to murmur as some of them did, and were destroyed of the destroyer (verse 10).
11. By Divine direction, these things HAPPENED to the Israelites for OUR examples, and they are written for OUR admonition (verse 11).
12. In view of these things, the Spirit says, "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" (verse 12).

It is something less than wise, and evidential of an enormous degree of unbelief, to affirm no person now aligned with Christ can be overthrown by God between here and glory because of unbelief. To say there is no danger of evil lusts, idolatry, fornication, tempting Christ, and murmuring within the church is too absurd to be entertained by anyone of sound mind. And to say Christians should be told they can NEVER fall is to simply to contradict the Spirit of God.

The Israelites are not examples for the world, but for the church. Furthermore, they are examples by Divine intention, not happenstance. If the things that happened among them cannot happen among us, then this text has no place in your Bible.

THE THIRD CHAPTER OF HEBREWS

This chapter admonishes "holy brethren," who are "partakers of the heavenly calling," and have professed Jesus (verse 1). Such people are reminded they are Christ's household IF they "hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of the hope firm to the end" (verse 6). The Spirit then holds before them the example of Israel.

1. We are NOT to harden our hearts as Israel did in the day they provoked God (verse 8).
2. God became grieved with the generation He delivered, swearing in His wrath they would never enter His rest (verse 9-11).
3. "Brethren" are to take heed that an "evil heart of unbelief" does not enter into THEM, causing THEM to depart from the living God (verse 12).
4. Believers are to exhort one another daily, lest any of THEM be "hardened through the deceitfulness of sin" (verse 13).
5. To buttress the exhortation, the Spirit calls us to consider the delivered Israelites who grieved God and were overthrown in the wilderness (verses 14-19).
6. Holy brethren are then exhorted, "Let US therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of YOU should seem to come short of it" (4:1).
7. WE are then admonished to "labor to enter into rest" (4:11).

These words are not difficult for faith to receive. No child of God should hesitate to speak these words without having to modify them. Of course, if there is no danger of an evil heart of unbelief entering "holy brethren" who have participated in the "heavenly calling," these words have no relevance at all, and may be removed from our Bibles.

THE BOOK OF JUDE

Through Jude, the brother of our Lord, the Holy Spirit again speaks with alarming clarity concerning Israel. He applies it to believers, particularly those who had become lax in their faith, and need to be stirred up to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints" (verse 3). Because certain wicked men had "secretly slipped in" among them, the Spirit saw fit to bring several matters to the remembrance of these brethren.

1. Referring to Israel, the Spirit reminds US that the Lord "destroyed them that believed not." This was done AFTER He had "saved the people out of the land of Egypt" (verse 5).
2. There were also "angels which kept not their first estate," who were expelled from their first location and are presently are "reserved in everlasting chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great day" (verse 6).
3. Showing that the wicked teachers who had penetrated their ranks were once among the faithful, the Spirit says they are "TWICE dead" (verse 12).

Jude's message is written "to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called" (verse 1). There can be no question, therefore, about the relevance of his reference to the Israelites who were destroyed AFTER they were delivered.

May all of God's people have the faith to receive these words, and live within the circumference of faith, not falling into the same snare as some of the ancient people.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in Jesus' name, I thank You for providing the example of Israel, favored people who provoked You to anger. Father, I want to be pleasing in Your sight. Help me to be consistent and strong in my faith, thereby bringing glory to You and favor to me.

-- Tomorrow: LOSING SALVATION??? --