After warning his readers of the consequences of unbelief, the writer begins to unfold God’s promise of rest to those who have faith. What is the promise? According to verse 1, the promise is “entering His rest,” which includes peace with God, salvation, and a future hope of heaven. Being secure in a relationship with God brings rest and deliverance from insecurity. The writer of Hebrews urges his readers to carefully examine their heart and discover their true spiritual condition. There seemed to be those amongst his readership who intellectually accepted the message of Jesus Christ, but failed to believe with their heart (4:2). The writer returns to the Jews who were miraculously delivered from Egypt, but God’s message did not impact them because it was not “mixed with faith.” James states very clearly that “faith without works is dead.” When genuine faith in God’s message is believed there will be visual proof and life change…a person cannot stay the same when they trust in the work of Jesus Christ. The author of Hebrews also compares the rest which God gives to those who are His to the seven day creation where He rested on the seventh day (4:4-5) – He worked six days and rested on the seventh. Entering God’s rest is still open. His rest was available during the time of Moses and was still available during David’s lifetime (4:6-7), but it continues to be open to us. There is a sense of urgency here and the writer desires those who are reading to enter into God’s rest and leave their life of rebellion and disobedience. Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land, but ultimately the rest which was offered was not just a physical rest but a spiritual one (4:8). One day there will be a spiritual rest for God’s people and all their works will cease as they find true rest in God (4:10).
Dear God, thank You for the rest offered to everyone who will by faith believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ. I look forward to the final resting place in heaven where true rest will then be realized!
