The Power and Cure of Unbelief
So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. (Hebrews 3:19)
Read: Heb. 3:7-19; Ps. 95:7-11; Prov. 28:14; John 12:37-43
What Is God Saying?
As the name implies, Hebrews was written for the Hebrew Christians. The Jews, especially those living in Jerusalem, had become discouraged. They were often the objects of ridicule and scorn. Other Jews said to them, Look what you are losing- no altar, no sacrifices, no priesthood, no more tradition. These Christians, born into Judaism were turning their backs on all that, and for what reason? The preaching of this Nazarene could hardly stand against their deeply rooted customs and their time-honored rites.
Christian Jews needed encouragement- what we have in Christ is so much better. Better becomes the keyword of the book. One example is Moses servant of God but Christ was ‘faithful over God's house as a Son’ (3:6). Follow Christ as a better leader out of bondage and into the rest and freedom of God. Moses was great, but Christ is greater.
Even today there is the problem of unbelief, hardness of heart. It was unbelief, the deceitfulness of sin, that defeated God's purpose under Moses. Unbelief can still keep a person away from Christ. Unbelief can hold back the hand of God (Matthew 13:58). Unbelief can block the entrance to the Promised Land of salvation and freedom and rest. The power of unbelief cannot be taken lightly.
How Does This Apply To Us?
Much is said and done about a cure for cancer. It is a subtle, shadowy enemy that makes a shambles of life, physically. What about the cancer of unbelief? When it takes root it does far-reaching damage. It blocks the entrance to Heaven. It does for the soul what aggressive cancer does to the body. It brings a different kind of pain, all the more serious because it goes unnoticed. Unbelief has great power. Only Faith has more. Only Faith can meet it head-on and emerge triumphant. Unbelief makes God seem unreal and irrelevant. Faith is the foundation of all prayer. Faith believes God is able and available. Only Faith can conquer Unbelief. In prayer, we cast our vote for Faith and against Unbelief.
Pray With Me
Lord, Your people were chosen to be blessed above all others and to be a blessing to all others. Yet they hardened their hearts in rebellion against You. Unbelief is the only thing that keeps us from receiving God's best and being God's blessed. It is the reason sinners are unconverted and saints are unhappy. It extinguishes the light of hope. It is the disharmony that garbles the song of Joy. It locks the door to bliss and opens the door to sorrow. It blocks the road to peace and paves the road to frustration. It makes us afraid to walk the narrow road that leads to life. It drives us to go with the crowd on the broad road to destruction. It makes the best seem poor and the worst seem good. It makes the impossible to remain impossible and the easy to seem hard. It restrains the omnipotent hand of God, ‘He did no mighty works there, because of their unbelief.’
Lord, let a new vision of Your eternal glory enable me to break from the chilling grip of doubt. Let a new understanding of the security I have as Your follower set me free from imposing fear. Let a new awareness of Your steadfast and deathless love, like the sun rising, drive away the blinding, chilling clouds of unbelief. Lord, ‘I believe; help my unbelief.’ Give me the liberty that belongs to those who enter the reality of Your redeeming and ever-present love.
In the name of Him who said, ‘This is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith.’ Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
We are never free of nagging doubt. Unbelief is persistent. Prayer becomes our necessary weapon in a constant battle, but faith gives us victory, day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment. Faith is nourished by God's glory, God's truth, God's love, and His unspeakable gift in Jesus Christ. Think about those things and unbelief will surrender. Think about those things and prayer will become a source of joy, an avenue of freedom, and a habit of life, true life.
