Confidence in God's Love

Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Various seasons in life, trials and testings of our faith, can challenge a person's understanding of God's love.  Whether I am walking day by day through life when everything is going as "normal" as possible or enjoying times of great blessing, God's love around me is very real.  But when trouble comes, as it does for all of us, faith is needed to keep believing in God's love for me.  A handful of tragic events have truly rocked my faith.  They have shaken me to the core of all that I have believed and known to be true.  But praise goes to God who sustained me through those terrible times and showed me His love through scripture and through the still moments that I took to spend in His presence and in His refuge.  Without those daily and precious times in the presence of the Lord, my darkest days would have been spent trapped in fear and dread.   

Fear is the absence of love, as darkness is the absence of light.  Once we understand God's love, all our fears are cast out.  

I John 4:18 "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.  But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." 

To be "made perfect in love" is to know God's love, to experience and to partake of the love that God already has for you.  I John 3:1-3 states that God has lavished His great love upon all of His children.  

"To know that love is of God and to enter into the secret place leaning upon the arm of the Beloved--this and only this can cast out fear," wrote A.W. Tozer in The Knowledge of the Holy.  

God gives us the right to partake of His love when we become His children through His Son Jesus Christ:  John 1:12 "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."  If you have received Christ, then you are God's child; and if you are God's child, then you can know and partake of God's love.

So then, why do we doubt His great love when we go through various trials?  Perhaps doubting is a result of a weakness in our faith.  Maybe it is a lack of understanding about the depth of God's love for us and the steadfastness of His love which endures even when our faith is weak.  Doubt may also be a result of the presence of unrepentant sin thus drawing every person to make a judgement about Christ Jesus.  The will of man is able to prevail through a great trail, but the victory must ultimately be assigned to one: self or God.  For every believer, trials are a tool which God uses to train us in righteousness and holiness.  We can learn from scripture (James 1:2-4) that God allows us to go through times of trials so that we would be lacking in nothing.  God uses suffering as a training ground for godly virtues so that we can live them out as a testimony of His transforming power in us.  You can choose to assign the glory to God for His power in the midst of your trial, or you can fight to win the battle on your own (which is idolatry - to rob God of His glory).

How can I know that God loves me when I go through trials?  Is it possible that God would put me through more and more training (trails) because He is not pleased with me?  

We can know that God loves us, especially when going through a trial because the scripture assures us of this very fact.  Hebrews 12:5-11 reminds all believers that we are loved as sons and daughters and are being trained up by our Father who desires us to bear the fruit of righteousness in our lives.  Moreover, Christ gave us the living example of His love for us in the event of Lazarus' death.  This account recorded in John 11:1-44 tells us that Lazarus had not yet passed away when Jesus was told of his illness.  "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.(vs 5-6)"  WHAT! Did the scripture really just say that?  Jesus loved them . . . so, he stayed longer?  So that Lazarus would die?  Yes, the scripture most certainly states that we are called to suffer just as Christ suffered so that we may be glorified with Christ (Romans 8:17)  Jesus used the death of Lazarus to bring great glory to God, widening the gap between those who would not hear the voice of the Son of God and those who would believe in Him.  The blessing of life which was returned to Lazarus soon became a point of suffering for him and all who followed Christ.  The chief priests sought to kill Lazarus for causing a great crowd of people to  turn to Christianity (John 12:9-11)

We can know the love of Christ because He lives in all who believe in His name.  His Spirit testifies of this truth to our spirits (Rom 8:16, Eph 3:16-19) and He will continue to reveal the immeasurable riches of his great love to us throughout all of eternity because His love surpasses all knowledge (Eph 2:7).

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be[i] against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.[j] 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God's Word and His Work

Hebrews 4:11-16New American Standard Bible (NASB)

11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

I am completely in love with God's word.  Nearly every day begins with extended time spent studying the Bible which leads to times of repentance, seeking God, requesting His power in my life, building of my faith and worship.  The work that He does through His word is far greater than any devotional, self-help literature, or force of will could ever do in my heart.  It is because of my love for scripture that I want to "back up" to the portion of Hebrews chapter 4 which speaks of the power of God's word.  There is also a note of redemption that drives me back to this passage.  About a decade or more ago, I was listening to a sermon by a prominent individual who ridiculed believers for "deifying the scriptures."  He continued to make less of the scriptures than I was comfortable with hearing.  The study of higher thought and origin of scripture had somehow weakened his view of God's word.  However, I knew that this minister was dead wrong because I had experienced the living word in my life.  By God's Spirit through the scripture, God had done in me what I could not do in myself.  Hebrews 4:12 and it clearly states that God's word is living.  More than that, His word is active as stated in the following passage:

Isaiah 55:11New American Standard Bible (NASB)

11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,

And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.  

    

Living and active: This amazes me - that God's word is alive!  But I know it is true, because I can read it, walk away and miraculously experience a transformation in my mind and my spirit. It is like the truths in His word unlock some sort of secret passageway, or push a reset button to reshape my thinking.  In contrast, God's word would be dead if it did not cause a change of heart.  God's word cannot be dead because I see new mysteries revealed each time I re-read a passage.  

Sharp two-edged sword:  Here is a frightening and painful thought; but to the believer, hope and peace.  The word of God is a precision tool which God uses to free us from encumbrance of sin and reveal the presence of Christ in us.  (God be glorified!)  It is by the word and the work of the Holy Spirit that the old sinful self passes away.  The result is the conformity of our hearts and minds to that of God's Son.

Division:  This is judgment - to draw clear definition between what is holy and what is unholy.  God's word judges the hearer/reader.  John 1:1-13 refers to Jesus as the Word who came into the world , brought light to men and enlightens everyone.  Reading God's word in itself does not make one holy, but it does enlighten all who read.  The Bible brings present judgment in that the hearer must determine what he or she will do with the truth.  Consequently, the Word will bring future judgment for all who do not believe.

John 12:47-48New American Standard Bible (NASB)

47 If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.

Revelation 19:13-15New American Standard Bible (NASB)

13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.

Soul and Spirit:  The soul is sometimes referred to as the mind.  Our soul is what makes determinations based on what motivates us - our sinful human nature.  Our spirit is the space given us by the Creator and designed to be filled with His Spirit.  Our spirit is dead in us until God breathes His life into it.  Once the spirit is alive, we are driven by His Spirit to know Him more - pursue God.  The Bible breaks the bond between soul and spirit so that the Holy Spirit can do a transforming work in our lives.  A life that is yielded to God's Spirit can now be motivated by what pleases God - holiness.

Joints and Marrow:  The joints of our body provide action and mobility.  Similarly, spiritual action is our conduct.  The marrow of the bone is the very core of life.  It is what gives us wellness and a ready defense from the environment that invades the body continually.  Spiritual marrow is the very core values that drive our conduct.  Our conduct can be driven by sinful core values or by spirit led values.  The word of God brings a clear judgment between conduct that is driven by sin and that which is spirit led.  Our actions reveal what is in our hearts and God's word reveals the heart of sin.  Jesus spoke of our actions in terms of good or bad fruit.

Matthew 12:33-35New American Standard Bible (NASB)

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. 35 The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.

 An account or a Priest:  Based on what we know of the power of God's word, our spirits should tremble at the coming judgment; but there is Christ, our high priest who acts on our behalf in relation to God.  Without Christ, we would have to give an account for every sin which the Word of God reveals - and we would never be able to make restitution for them.  "In Christ, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight, making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."  (Eph. 1:7-10)

True Rest for All Who Believe!

This study is a continuation in Hebrews.  Click here for the previous post or here to read from the beginning of the study.

Hebrews 4

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

4 Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. ² For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word ^[a]they heard did not profit them, because ^[b]it was not united by faith in those who heard.3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,

“As I swore in My wrath,
They shall not enter My rest,”

although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; 5 and again in this passage, “They shall not enter My rest.” 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying [c]through David after so long a time just as has been said before,

“Today if you hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts.”

8 For if [d]Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

This passage was a tough one for me.  I took notes as I studied through it, knowing the chapters before and after well enough, or so I thought, to pull out the main point and blog about what I gleaned.  After typing most of my thoughts, I realized that I had no idea what the main point could be.  It was a great lesson for me.  You see, when I come up with a point from scripture that contradicts sound doctrine, I know that there has to be a great flaw in my understanding of what that passage is saying.  I deleted my entire post and went to my husband with great despair because my theology was getting rattled.  Five minutes after reading Hebrews four, he saw the main point, showed me what I was missing and that was that.  Doctrine sound.  Theology back on course. I praise God for my husband who is also my pastor and teacher.  I could have just as easily gone into prayer and asked God to reveal the truth to me, but He has given me the gift of my husband who can counsel me in flesh and blood.  There is no shame in that! 

I will keep my blah-blah-blah to a minimum and share with you a few highlights that I learned.

1. Hebrews was written to Jewish believers who were being persecuted for their faith.  Many threatened to go back to the practice of their Jewish rites and rituals - abandoning their faith in God's grace through Christ. 
2. There is an appropriate "terror-type" of fear that goes hand in hand with us "working out our salvation".  Verse one states that we should fear that we would come short of entering into God's rest.  This is a fear of unbelief.  Believers should take note of the Israelite people of the Exodus who refused to obey God.  They turned away from His commands and served their own gods.
3. Verse two explains that hearing the good news and having faith  are key to entering into God's rest.  There is no belief apart from faith.  Faith is an assurance of the truth of God's word and God's promises to all who believe in Him. 
4. The word "rest" in this passage is used several times but has three separate meanings.  First, the Jews of the Exodus desired to enter into God's rest which was to mean the promise land.  Second, God commanded a day of rest - the Sabbath - to be observed as a holy day.  Third, God has promised another rest (vs 9-11) which is to "rest" in God's grace.  This is a fantastic thing and was the point that I completely missed without my husband's help.  The Jewish believers were thinking about leaving God's rest - going back to practice the law which meant working for their salvation.  But God has offered us another day of rest which we can enter "today."  Heb. 4:11 "Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through the same example of disobedience.
5. If you have truly believed in Jesus Christ, you have no need to fear.  He is your great High Priest who can sympathize with your weakness.  You can draw near to His throne with confidence to find mercy, grace and help! 

John Piper did an excellent job summarizing this passage and I want to share an excerpt from his message on Hebrews four.  If you want to read the entire transcript (oh, how encouraging it is), click the following article title:

Be Diligent to Enter God's Rest!  (from www.desiringGod.org)

The text is very complicated, so let me just sketch a very brief outline for you. The writer focuses on five points in history to show how God keeps opening his rest for believing people.
First, he starts at creation (Genesis 2:2) and says in verse 4: "He has thus said somewhere concerning the seventh day, 'God rested on the seventh day from all his works.'" So he sees in this a restful, peaceful, sovereign God who has a rest and a peace and a place of joy where his people can enjoy fellowship with him. He will call it a "Sabbath rest" because on the seventh day God rested. But in reality it lasts forever.
Second, he focuses on the period when Israel was wandering in the wilderness and rebelling against God. Verse 5 (quoting Psalm 95), "And again in this passage, 'They shall not enter my rest.'" The promised land is a picture of God's ultimate rest, and their unbelieving rebellion excludes them from it. Which raises the question whether there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
The third focus is on the time of Joshua, who took the people into the promised land. Is that the final, ultimate rest God in mind for his people? Verse 8 answers no: "For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that." In other words, even though Joshua gave some relief to the people of God in the promised land, that was not the final rest God has planned for them. How do we know that? God spoke of another day—another rest centuries later.
Today, There Still Is a Resting Place
Which brings us to the fourth period of time the writer focuses on, the time of David writing in Psalm 95. Verse 7: "He again fixes a certain day, 'Today,' saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, 'Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.'" In other words, long after the people enjoyed the rest of the promised land, David says that God is still holding out to his people an offer of salvation rest: Don't harden your hearts, and you will enjoy God's rest (referred to at the end of the psalm, 95:11 = Hebrews 3:11 = 4:3).
From this the writer draws the all-important conclusion about God's Sabbath rest of salvation—and this is his fifth period of history, namely, today—verse 9: "There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God." In other words, Today, the rest is still open.
And that is the foundation of God's message to you today: There is a rest open to you today. God offers rest. The door is not shut. The time is not past. You have not missed your last opportunity. Hear the words of verse 9: "There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God." The door is open. The time is now.
Ah, but someone says, "Yes, a rest remains for the people of God—but not for me." But I answer, do not rule yourself out. Look at verse 3—our last word, "We who have believed enter that rest." There is one door to the safe, peaceful, happy rest of God—the door of faith. Anyone who puts faith in God's promises bought for us by the blood of Jesus, and is diligent not to throw that faith away, is a part of the people of God. So on behalf of God, I call you this morning, put your trust in the promise of God's rest.

More to come!

If you have followed my devotional blog and have noticed that the study in Hebrews is on "pause", I am sorry to keep you waiting.  Here are a couple of reasons for the delay:

1. God is calling for change.  My husband and I have been strongly lead to make a huge change in our lives of ministry and are extremely focused on walking in His calling.  We have been serving in one location for 19 years.  As we have lived, loved our Christian brethren, worshiped and reached the lost, God has continued to train us up.  Some of the training has been painful, but it has produced the fruit of the righteousness of Christ through us.  Now He is leading us to go.  We are searching.  We are following His lead to go. . . we don't know where . . . or when.  Our main focus is on prayer and to do much searching.  There have been serious times of doubting on my part; but as I doubt, I have held fast to the clear calling on both of our hearts.  The calling is intangible.  It puts a sense of intense joy and energy in us that can only come from the One who calls.  Our decision looks illogical and foolish to the world, and we have faced some who have challenged us at the core - but the result has been a greater resolve to follow God's calling.  Even when we fear that we are too old and all washed up to do the kind of work that God has put on our hearts, we remain steadfast on the calling - trusting that God has called us because He is not done using us.  My prayer this morning, as I delivered to Him my mouth, hands, heart, head and feet, was, "Use me all up, God."  We spend our lives on God and the message of salvation through Christ to those who don't know Him.  We don't want to store up anything that will distract us from that purpose.  We want Him to use us up.  We want to spend all that we have on Him.
2. God is calling all readers.  On January 1 of this year, I had a clear and irresistible leading from God to read through the Bible as quickly as I could.  This is something that I hadn't done since college.  I looked up the number of chapters that are in the Bible and found that I could read through the Bible in roughly 180 days at the pace of 10 chapters a day.  I completed the journey through the Bible on May 5th, and I have to tell you that it was one of the most amazing experiences that I have known.  God has offered such clarity to me through His word regarding doctrinal thoughts on which I have felt unclear.  Overall, the experience has given me a beautiful perspective of God's story from creation to Christ's return.  It is my great privilege to "file away" fresh understanding of the love of God to share with others.  My reading continues, and I am excited to appropriate more time to studying Hebrews again, with the intention of blogging about it.  :)

  Many blessings to you as you read God's word!  See you soon.

Unbelief and the Wrath of God

Hebrews 3:7-19

A Rest for the People of God

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

“Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
    on the day of testing in the wilderness,
9 where your fathers put me to the test
    and saw my works for forty years.
10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation,
and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;
    they have not known my ways.’
11 As I swore in my wrath,
    ‘They shall not enter my rest.’”

12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said,

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses?17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

This passage follows a challenge to everyone who believes - that we should hold fast to the hope that we have in Christ Jesus.  He rules faithfully over God's kingdom (Hebrews 3:6).  The act of "holding fast" to our confidence in Christ and our hope of eternal redemption is evidence of our faith, and faith is at the foundation of every believer in Christ.  

This portion of Hebrews chapter three begins by restating the scripture from Psalm 95:7-11.  As a side note, notice that the passage gives credit to the Holy Spirit who spoke these words.  The word of God is written by God Himself who, through His Holy Spirit, inspired the hand of man to put ink to paper.   The identity of the man who penned Hebrews is unknown, but the author of the words is the Spirit of God.  If ever you are unsure whether you have heard God's voice, test to see if the words spoken to your are rooted in scripture.  The Holy Spirit's job is to remind you of what God has already said.  His word is complete, accurate and beneficial to guide you in all of life.  God's Spirit will always guide us consistently by God Word and according to His unchanging attributes. 

Today, right now, is the time to respond to God who is calling us to believe upon Christ.  Believing is a largely misunderstood term among those who would call themselves "Christian."  As we look through Hebrews 3:7-19, we will grasp the depth of what it means to believe. 

The nation of Israel was led out of captivity in Egypt by their appointed deliverer, Moses.   However, they did not trust God in their exodus ("the rebellion".)  God spoke to them but they did not trust Him.  They did not have faith that God would do as He had promised which was to provide for them in their exile and establish them in the promised land.  Their unbelief led them to seek their own gods, essentially putting trust in themselves.  Finally, God condemned them to remain outside of the promised land forever (except for Joshua, Caleb and the second generation exiles who did not doubt God's faithfulness.)  

What is a hardened heart?  God describes behavior of the exiles as "always going astray in their hearts" and "they have not known my ways."  Imagine having a child who, over the span of 40 years, continually says to you, "You aren't my real Mom or Dad.  I don't believe that you really gave birth to me.  I just don't trust what you have claimed to be my relationship to you!"  That child would eventually break your heart and stir up a degree of contempt and anger.  Certainly, after 40 years, you would dismiss the child to believe whatever he has chosen to believe because he has become completely convinced with his own lie.  After such a span of time, the child refused to see your love, true character or faithful nurture over the deception in his hard heart.  The consequence of the child's behavior is wrath.  You would have every right to disown the child.  "If he will not believe that he is our son, then he will not inherit our possessions when we die."  This is exactly the consequence that the unbelieving Jews faced.  They  witnessed all the mighty works of God as they left the land of their captors, yet they refused to believe God to the point of obedience.  They were hard hearted.  God withheld the promised land that He had set aside for their earthly inheritance.

Hebrews 3:12 begins with an exhortation to all who believe in Christ.  "Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God."  It is serious business to be deceived by sin, to choose sin instead of trusting in God.  Walking in disobedience is a continual choice to sin rather than holding fast to Christ who delivers us from slavery to sin.  Verse 13 gives us one key to obedience - the church.  All who believe in Christ are the church, and we must encourage one another to remain steadfast in our hope and in our actions.  If you are a new Christian, you must join a church full of true believers who can teach you the fundamentals of faith in Christ and how to surrender to the Holy Spirit who conquers sin.  Notice however, that this challenge is not just for the new believer, but for all.  "But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." (vs. 13)  We are all weak and vulnerable when we turn our gaze from Christ, when we cease to set our mind on the Spirit even for one day.  And so the body of Christ is established that we can remind each other of our hope and resist the life of sin.  This is how true, Spirit led believers can walk in faith, firm to the end - through the unity of the body of Christ.

God is challenging everyone who calls himself a Christian in the final passage of Hebrews 3.  He asks us this question:

 "Who were those who heard and yet rebelled?  Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses?"  

The very people who were not allowed to enter the promised land were the people who followed their deliverer out of Egypt!  What?  They followed Moses!  They trusted God just enough to be rescued!  Is God unjust to take them out of captivity and then condemn them to die?  No!  God is justified in His wrath as He stated in 3:17, 

"And with whom was he provoked for forty years?  Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?"

The Jews trusted God enough to do what was necessary to be saved, but they did not do enough to show their belief in God.  They continued to disobeyHim and sin against Him.  

"And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?  So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief." 

So God is speaking to us, today.  If you hear His voice, do not harden your heart like the exiled Jews did in their rebellion.  Those who were disobedient were actually unbelieving.  To believe is to obey.  If you truly believe that Christ's sacrifice has saved you from the wrath of God, you will respond to God with an obedient heart.  I was recently reminded of a sermon illustration that Charles Spurgeon used to describe the new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:16-21.)  Briefly explained here:  a pig naturally eats it's slop of garbage food and enjoys it.  But if the pig were to be changed into a man, he would spit out the slop because it would disgust him.  So should we, when deciding to believe in Christ's sacrifice, be changed in such a way that the sins we once committed would disgust us.  When we sin, our response should be that of a broken heart with great remorse followed by a desire for forgiveness and restoration.  If the sin you commit no longer disgusts you, then you have a problem.  The problem is unbelief.  The consequence of unbelief is to remain outside of the inheritance that was meant for you.  This is why "Today" is so very important to all of us.  There is time to believe, to obey, while we still draw breath and Christ has not yet returned!

God will not always strive with His disobedient children, holding his anger back.  There will be a judgement day when He will release His anger against all who practice unbelief.  I will conclude this passage in Hebrews with a portion of Psalm 103.  Notice two things:  vs. 9 - God is striving with us (pleading and waiting for us to believe), and vs. 11 - His lovingkindness to those who fear Him is as high as the heavens are above the earth!

Psalm 103:6-18

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

6 The Lord performs [a]righteous deeds
And judgments for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the sons of Israel.
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
9 He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who [b]fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who [c]fear Him.
14 For He Himself knows [d]our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16 When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,
And its place acknowledges it no longer.
17 But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who [e]fear Him,
And His [f]righteousness to children’s children,
18 To those who keep His covenant
And remember His precepts to do them.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 103:6 Or deeds of vindication
2. Psalm 103:11 Or revere
3. Psalm 103:13 Or revere
4. Psalm 103:14 I.e. what we are made of
5. Psalm 103:17 Or revere
6. Psalm 103:17 I.e. faithfulness to His gracious promises