Let us labor to enter into His rest

I believe that God created the world on which we live and it is a BEAUTIFUL place.  But I've never really pondered much about HOW he did it.  Maybe I've been influenced too much by the stories of the Greek and Roman Gods, but I've always kind of pictured God resting on a lounge chair and just casually waving his hands and commanding the elements and "voila" the earth was created.  (I told you I've never really thought about it!)  

But this morning as I was reading Hebrews 4 it suddenly dawned on me that creating the world must have been A LOT of work.  After all, when God was finished He needed to "rest".  That doesn't sound like He was just casually waving a hand or two.  It sounds like he worked  for 6 LONG days and didn't stop until everything was finished and pronounced "good".  

I believe that He wants me to do the same.  My time here on earth is in reality VERY short (only 2 1/2 hours in God's time!).  I need to work diligently and tirelessly until my mission is finished and "pronounced good".  And to remind me of His infinite mercy He allows me to follow his pattern:  I work six LONG days and then rest - not "lounging" on the couch" but spending the seventh day totally focused on Him; renewing my spirit and strengthening my soul.

As Paul reminds us..."Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest..." Heb 4:11. 

Not of a "frenzied" mind

In preparing for mutual this week I have been reading about Korihor.  Korihor is one of only a handful of people in the scriptures that is actually called the "anti-christ."  It has been enlightening to study his teachings.  He is very skillful at taking the truth and just twisting it a tiny bit.  The things he preaches all sound "good."  As he says, they are "pleasing to the carnal mind."  And he is very successful; the people love his message.
What amazed me as I read this passage, was that the arguments Korihor used to deny or attack the Gospel are the very SAME ones used today.  (Korihor lived around 74 BC.)  Satan is totally unoriginal!!  My favorite is when he says that only those with a "frenzied" mind can believe in God.  In other words he is saying that for someone to believe in God they must be insane.  How many of us have heard that on our college campuses? 
This passage was a great reminder to me of the importance of studying the scriptures.  Satan knows the scriptures very well too.  He knows exactly how to twist the truth to lead people away from Christ.  If I want to remain faithful, I need to know the truth so well, that I cannot be fooled by his "pleasing" words.  And that will require a lot of study!