“How then shall we escape?”...the Wayfarer 2/2/14

“How then shall we escape?”
 2/2/14

“How then shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that herd him;

God also bearing witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”

(Hebrews 2:3 & 4)

As this tiny dirtball turns, and each day on it passes, the same question is asked daily by those I spoke of before, the innocents, the believers, and unbelievers alike, who see only the influence and ongoing assault by those who follow the dictates of mankind... who is in turn directed, or better stated, misdirected, by Lucifer to achieve his own ends while he is still allowed to do so.

“How can I escape?” “How long Oh Lord?”

The answers to these questions, seemingly so elusive are, and have been available from the beginning of the race of mankind.

The questions being asked are the wrong ones, when asked only from the viewpoint of the race, because the very asking is still to seek the answers from our own fallible kind, who has not found and never shall, by virtue of their own wisdom, find those answers.

“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;”

(Hebrews 2:11 &2)

This is the way Paul prefaced the verses I opened with, and gives the answer to those very questions being asked.

To find those answers, the first step is to remember that God has already addressed and answered the needs that create those questions, and that the answers are a part of a master plan known only to Him.

The questions themselves, and the cares that cause them, come into being only when we forget the fact that solutions already exist, and fail to follow the formula given to attain those solutions.

Take note that that 3^rd verse has a condition attached to the question being asked, it is, “if we neglect so great a salvation!”

It is the neglect of that answer already given that deepens the despair and compounds the troubles that need resolution.

Paul continues:

“For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection for the world to come, whereof we speak, 

But one in a certain place testified saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him?

Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:”

(Hebrews 2:5-8)

We forget that we are not the end all, be all of creation, and that powers above us exist, having far more influence and ability than those to whom we entrust the exercise the abilities of controlling the things with which God entrusted us.

It is little wonder that things go awry, and inequities exist when we turn only to our own kind for answers and solutions!

The remainder of the 2^nd chapter is devoted to the testimony of Christ Jesus, and rather than regurgitate it, I leave it to you to go to for yourself.

It is only  a portion of the point being made by Paul, whose eloquence far exceeds my own, but opens the way to a continuation of those answers sought in that continuation:

“For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house.

For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.”

(Hebrews 3:3&4)

Here Paul is speaking of Jesus, of whom, John tells us:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

(John 1:1-3)

John also spoke of that forgetfulness mentioned by Paul in the opening, that if allowed, will blind us to the answers to the questions asked.

“In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

(John 1:4 & 5)

Questions are still being asked from the darkness, because of an unwillingness to come to that light to find the answers!

Those answers can, and shall, never be found from the darkness that comes from the absolute denial of the power of God and that of His Son,  being sought instead from the very purveyors of that darkness through the teachings of mankind instead of the teachings of Christ Jesus.

Paul continues in the 3^rd chapter to speak of the hardening of hearts against the teachings and the means of attaining the answers to the questions through the salvation available only given through Christ, giving advice on how to avoid that hardening. 

He reminds us of those not allowed to enter into the Promised Land with Moses because of a similar hardening of heart, concluding the chapter with this thought:

“So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”

(Hebrews 3:19)

He opens the 4^th chapter with the thought:

“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.”

(Hebrews 4-1)

It is that rest, that is sought, that is so desired, that raises the questions being asked as we go through the seemingly insurmountable troubles of a world, which placed into the proper perspective is actually of no consequence whatsoever, because of its temporary nature.

Answers may only be found through the auspices of God, not those of man. 

Solutions may be found through the advice given in those answers if the answers are accepted, and advice followed.  

It is that fear that must be the driving force when we seek those answers, lest, we too, find ourselves far short of meeting the requirements to find those answers!

Salvation from the things that bring those questions only has one source. Rest from those things has only one answer. Both lie within the simple message given by Jesus throughout his ministry, and may never be found until that message is both heard and followed:

“Repent” for the kingdom of God is at hand!”

I give you only a glimpse at what is taught in this particular epistle, to glean better understanding, the entire book must be read. It must be carefully dissected as to each point that is being made, and held close within the heart of the reader to be completely understood.

I pray that that glimpse gives pause, and reason for the further study of its content, given centuries ago to people asking the same questions so many today continue to ask.

I pray that the answers to those questions be found, and more importantly accepted by those seeking those answers.

If eyes are open, ears accepting, minds cleared of the clutter of all the teachings that deny the scripture, those answers will be found. That rest can be achieved. The souls, of those seekers actually finding those answers, will be forever satisfied with those answers, both while exposed to the evil perpetrated by the darkness created through the acceptance of the teachings of mankind as a suitable substitute; but, far more importantly, will be accepted as an answer to an eternal joy and rest, unavailable to those who forget neglecting to look for those answers; or in far too many cases, fail to accept them when they are clearly given.

Again I close, remaining only, your humble servant, but far more importantly His, having long ago found the answers to those same questions, still that same simple sinner saved by grace through the only answer to be had, Christ Jesus and the salvation to be had only through Him. 

I stand, still firmly in opposition to the forces of darkness that obfuscate and hide those answers from the seekers willing to be reached and taught, not through any ability of my own, but through the ability of the One who called me to be the soldier I must be in His service, until that opposition is shown to be the failure it was doomed to be from the beginning.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer