“So watch your step, friends. Make sure there’s no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God.Â
For as long as it’s still God’s Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn’t slow down your reflexes.”
Hebrews 3:12-13, The Message
During a study of Acts in the Fall, I was struck by the view of history that the early Christians like Peter and Paul expressed in their preaching. Often, they would recount the history of the Jews and highlight where they went astray–where they were diverted from the Living God.Â
Paul’s purpose as he put the spotlight on history was to suggest that it was not just a story from the past that he was reminding people of but it was a story that was being repeated in his Today.
This characteristic of drawing on history to warn, guide, correct, direct and convict is a key characteristic of the book of Hebrews. In chapter 3 and 4 the author quotes Psalm 95 three times.
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” Psalm 95:7-8
Not only is the author suggesting that whatever believers faced in the past we will be meeting in our present but he is drawing attention to the great mercy of God to renew appointments with His people.Â
His work is done and yet He comes encouraging and exhorting that the promise of rest still stands–His work is finished and He comes prompting us to lean on each other for help like the couples on Biggest Loser.
His work is done but He knows what we face and how easy we fall into unbelief if we go it alone. So He speaks to us like He spoke to the Exodus wanderers, like He spoke to Joshua’s soldiers, like He spoke to David’s generation, like He spoke to Elijah’s followers, like He spoke to Paul’s hearers.
“Therefore, God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before:
‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”
Hebrews 4:7
If you woke up breathing and in your right mind again this morning—God has given you a “Today Show”. The promises still stand and we have not missed our appointment–it is Today!
His Word has reminded me how not to waste it for myself and how to have my eyes and ears open for others who need reminding of what is at stake TODAY!