Title: “Today“
Intro: (I fully admit, today is a “feel good” message.)
Probably the most well known verse in scripture about the concept of “Today” is Hebrews 3:13, (Do not harden your heart while it is still called today) which we looked at back in February, but I hope to demonstrate that today’s lesser known “today” passage also has some wonderful truth to reflect upon.
(Picture from Christmas of 2019)
Story of the kids scavenger hunt at Christmas of 2019.
Spelled out Hawaii. “When are we going?”
“June!” “Oh…”
Then Covid. Then Flooding. Then Laura. Then other plans for the Summer. And now, finally, the reality.
NASB:
6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who previously had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience,
7 He again sets 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.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that
Again, For Reference:
“Meribah” was the start of the 40 years of wandering
“Massah” was then end of the 40 years, when they were preparing to enter the Promised Land.
Psalm 95:8-11
8 Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah,
As on the day of Massah in the wilderness,
9 “When your fathers put Me to the test,
They tested Me, though they had seen My work.
10 For forty years I was disgusted with that generation,
And said they are a people who err in their heart,
And they do not know My ways.
11 Therefore I swore in My anger,
They certainly shall not enter My rest.”
J.I. Packer on “Today”
The readers have already learned that they live in the time called “Today.”Therefore, they must heed the promises and the warnings.
Through David both the offer of entry, and the warning of against failure to enter is continued to a new generation, who are called to recognize his voice “Today.”
PB’s Questions
- In what ways do non-believers fail to recognize the importance of “Today”?
- In what ways do believers make similar mistakes?
Packer commenting on verse 8:
This is another indication that the physical land of Canaan did not fulfill the promise of God’s rest.
When David wrote, Israel had long ago entered Canaan under Joshua.
If the land they entered under Joshua had fulfilled the promise of divine rest, the psalm’s warning to David’s generation would have been pointless. The patriarch’s hope was fixed on a better, heavenly country.
To Packer’s last point, consider Hebrews 11:16
But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
Complementary Concepts from Scripture:
Matthew 6:19-21
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
Philippians 3:13-14
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus
Point: We are designed to be a forward-looking people. We have hope, therefore we have joy, therefore we share GOOD news.
Why?
Because we are a prepared people for a prepared place.
Is there any better thought of comfort in the universe?
Close:
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that
If the scavenger hunt would have been fulfilling to Nevaeh and Silas, there would have never been any reason to actually go to Hawaii.
So let’s test this theory: Silas, was the scavenger hunt sufficient? Do you still want/need to go to Hawaii, or are you good?