Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.
Hebrews 4:1-13
Our verses today are all about the rest God offers to His people. The two most repeated words in the section are the words “rest” and “enter.” Jesus, in Matthew 11:28, said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Millions, since He said it, have craved that rest. Today, Christians seek Him for it. So, let us look into what is God’s rest. One may think of hammocks, beaches, books, and lazy summer days. Some may even think of entertainment and sports. Our verses today paint a bit of a different picture. First, what came before Hebrews 4? Early Jewish Christians were tempted to engage in the Old Testament rituals instead of what God offered them in a relationship through Christ. So, part of God’s rest is to cease from the Old Testament religious observances. Second, to define God’s rest, the author of Hebrews points us to the seventh day of creation, or Eden, or the Promised Land after Joshua’s conquest, or the Sabbath system instituted after Christ’s Resurrection. So, these days and places are symbols of what Christ offers His people. Third, the author concludes Hebrews with an increasing crescendo of phrases describing the new life to come: the city that has foundations, our heavenly country and city, the city of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, the kingdom that cannot be shaken. So, God’s rest is found in the eternal city which is the destination of God’s people. So, God’s rest is a place and a state of being. Though our hope is sure, it is yet future. Knowing this, our today should be influenced by our certainty of tomorrow. Our Father in heaven speaks of this certain hope for His children to rest upon His Word and promises to bring them into rest today, shaping our life today. The rest of God brings us past dead religion and into life and joy with Him, dreadful fear and worries melt into a simple trust in His love, past self-effort and self-righteousness into the imputed righteousness of Christ and into agreement between our words and actions. Christian, do you crave this rest? Approximately 2,000 years ago, Jesus entered Jerusalem, on a donkey, to triumphant cries from the people. Just a few days later, Jesus died an atoning death for all who believe in Him. He is that rest! Let us go into the House of the Lord and worship Him today, longing for the day of rest that we all will soon receive. Christian, keep striving to enter this rest.
Source: S C Ball March 24, 2024
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