Hebrews 4 - 1.22.25
Scripture
Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:11, NIV).
Observation
Whenever there is a “therefore” in the Bible, we need to read the verses/chapters above it to find out what it is alluding to. Chapters 3 and 4 of Hebrews talks about the rest promised to God’s children.
Hebrews 3 ends with the solemn note that the Israelites could not enter God’s rest because of their unbelief (Hebrews 3:19). Further it says that the promise of rest was not attained by the Israelites because of their disobedience (Hebrews 4:6). Israelites had a combination of unbelief and disobedience. Though they saw God’s miraculous hand at work in the wilderness for forty years, they continued to rebel and not believe (Hebrews 3:9-11; Psalms 95:9-11). The writer of Hebrews cautions us to watch out so that none of us have a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God (Hebrews 3:12). Though Joshua took the Israelites to the Promised Land, they did not obey God in driving out the Canaanites, and in keeping themselves holy by not being unequally yoked with the idolatrous people of the land. Again the writer of Hebrews urges us to make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience (Hebrews 4:11).
Application
There remains a promise of rest for the children of God. So let us draw near with the fear of God, so that we don’t miss it (Hebrews 4:1, NKJV). We who have believed have entered that rest (Hebrews 4:3).
It is interesting that God is not saying that we will enter that rest in future tense, when we finish our life and reach heaven. We have already entered the rest when we believed in Jesus. Yes, eternal life starts here on earth! God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Yes, we have believed in him and have received eternal life. Let us be careful not to step outside of that rest through unbelief and through disobedience (Hebrews 3:12, 4:11).
We have rest from works required by the Levitical law for salvation. It was finished on the cross (John 19:30). He has taken the legal requirements against us, out of the way, nailing it to the cross (Col 2:14). Praise God, we have entered into God’s rest when we believed in Him. Entering God’s rest does not mean that we have entered into a period of idleness. God expects us to work and provide for our families (1 Tim 5:8). However, we are not running the “rat race”, like the people of the world, as we know that God is our provider, and has engraved us in the palm of his hands (Isaiah 49:16). He expects us to be faithful stewards of the talents, abilities and resources he has given us (Matthew 25:14-30). He also expects us to do the good works that he has planned for us before we were born (Eph 2:10). We go about our work, resting in God (Psalms 37:7, NKJV), knowing that it is He who blesses the work of our hands and gives us the results of our work (Deut 28:12).
We no longer need to be anxious. Instead in every situation, prayer and thanksgiving, we can present our requests to God (Phil 4:6). God’s peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:7).
Prayer
Father, I thank you for the rest that you have for me. Thank you for taking me into your rest, when I believed in you. Help me to understand what that rest means. Help me to not to step away from your rest through unbelief and disobedience like the Israelites. I know that I have been saved through your grace, and it is not of myself, but it is your gift (Eph 2:8). Help me to rest in you. Thank you because I can cast my cares upon you, because you care for me (1 Peter 5:7). Help me to live in a way that pleases you. Make my life a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to you (Romans 12:1). In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.
- Asha Chacko George
