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.                       Hebrews 4:1

We see it in football all of the time. It’s fourth and goal and the team decides to “go for it.” The running back gets the ball and is quickly tackled behind the line of scrimmage by a blitzing defense. Or perhaps the same play is run and the player gains a yard before running into the goal-stopping defense. Or still yet, the running back may find his way to the goal line only to be hit just before reaching the end zone. And as he stretches out to try and move the ball across the line, he is stopped just inches short.

All three scenarios end in the same result…they all come up short of scoring. This is what the writer of Hebrews is talking about regarding the promises of God…”coming short of them.” But what does it mean to “come up short” and what causes us to do that? Well, the short answer is unbelief (something we will discuss a little later.) But let’s look at three scenarios that all lead to the same result of coming short of the promises of God…something we will call “three degrees of separation.”

In order to illustrate this concept, take a sheet of paper and draw a circle. Inside the circle write the word “Christ.” Then draw two more concentric circles creating what will look much like a target with the bullseye being the circle in the middle labeled “Christ.” On the very outside of the last circle (furthest away from the center) write the word “agnosticism.” This is the first of three degrees of separation. 

When we look at “missing out on” or “coming up short of” the promises of God, we see, in this passage, that unbelief, on our part, is the cause. The writer of Hebrews even gives us an example from the Old Testament of how this happened to the people of Israel (again, something we will explore a little later.) But for us living between the first and second comings of Jesus, the same holds true. Unbelief is what causes us to come short of the promises of God. Yes, they are God’s promises but they must be united with faith in the hearer or no real benefit will emerge. And the first group of unbelievers, that we will equate to the running back tackled behind the line of scrimmage, are the agnostics. 

The word “agnostic” comes from a Greek word “gnosis” meaning “to know something.” And when we put an “a” in front of the word, it creates the opposite meaning. Therefore, “agnostic” literally means “to not know.” These are people who God loves yet are not sure if He even exists or not. The Bible speaks to these individuals. Consider the following:

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God…”      

Psalm 14:1, Psalm 53:1

If anyone should find themselves in this category, they are, in the truest sense of the word, coming short of the promises of God. To live in this world and to not acknowledge God is to truly ignore all of the evidence around us. Even the creation itself speaks of God. Consider these words:

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.

Psalm 19:1-2

To go outside and to look up at the stars at night is enough evidence to see the reality of God. Creation speaks everyday and every night to the glory of God. And what about the New Testament? Consider these words:

For since the creation of the world His (God’s) invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they (all of mankind) are without excuse.

              Romans 1:20

So it’s not that we don’t have enough evidence for the reality that there is a God rather it is a choice one makes to not believe. This is the essence of unbelief and it represents the first of three degrees of separation. 

It is no wonder that the writer of Hebrews says that we should fear if the promises remain yet we come up short. God desires a personal relationship with us and it is one in which we do not have to wonder if there is a God or not. Consider Paul’s prayer for us:

(that we) may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

        Ephesians 3:18-19

God wants us to know Him personally and intimately, a kind of experiential knowledge that surpasses book knowledge or simply knowing about something. He doesn’t want us to only know Him from a doctrinal standpoint (although that is important), He wants us to walk with Him daily and to enjoy His presence in our lives. He desires for us to “be filled up to all the fullness of God.” This is the kind of relationship for which we were created and it is all found in the Person of Jesus Christ. As Christians, we no longer wonder if there is a God, He now lives within our hearts and His Spirit now gives us the power to live victoriously in this life!

It truly is a tragedy when someone misses out on the promises of God. In Christ, we have love, joy, peace, acceptance, forgiveness, and the list goes on. But for those on the outer most part of our concentric circle diagram and like the running back that gets tackled behind the line of scrimmage, agnosticism is rooted in unbelief and keeps multitudes of people from receiving the gift of salvation offered to us by a loving and gracious God. That is why it is so important for us, as Christians, to adhere to Jesus’ marching orders…”to go and preach the gospel to all creation!” (Mark 16:15)

Do you know Christ personally? Call on Him now, He will meet you right where you are!