Hebrews Chapter 4
Just 2 weeks ago I was reflecting on Moses coming down the mountain after a harsh discussion with God about the people asking for new gods. Because of their behavior and unwillingness to share the faith of those that actually did listen to God, they were denied the ‘rest’ that was promised them.
For those of us today, God’s promise of rest is still very much on the table. What we need to do, though, is figure out if we are really taking it seriously. We can all HEAR the message but are we LISTENING?? Do we BELIEVE the words that we are listening to?? Our faith has to connect with the message for it to do anything.
Let’s think about this….God finished His work at creation and rested on the 7th day. This rest wasn’t just for Him, it was always meant for us as well. If Joshua had fully delivered on that rest when he led Israel into the Promised Land, God wouldn’t still be talking about “a day called Today.” But He is. Which means the rest is still out there where we stop striving to earn everything and simply rest in what He’s already done. BUT, don’t just simply coast along on this. We still must make every effort to actually enter that rest. We cannot follow the same pattern of stubborn unbelief that tripped up those before us.
Let us also never fall numb to the Word of God just being text on a page. It’s alive, active, sharper than any blade ever made. It cuts through all the noise, past our emotions, our rationalizations, right to the core of who we actually are. Sometimes we may really despise this truth but we know deep down it exposes our real thoughts and motives. Nothing is ever hidden.
Now, that all might sound like a little bit of bad news, and it is, but here is the good news….there is someone in all of our lives who sits at the top, the Son of God! He knows exactly what it feels like to be us. He was tempted in every way we are, the full human life experience, and He never broke.
So don’t let yourself fade in the shadows. We must continue to walk straight into God’s presence with confidence, the kind of confidence of someone who knows they are welcomed. What you will find is NOT a judge waiting to lower the hammer, but instead the grace and mercy when you need it most!
I believe this chapter is essentially saying, stop white-knuckling life by trying to earn your way. The rest God offers isn’t laziness, it is trust. We all have a Savior that has been in those trenches, and we have all been given the roadmap to our spot on the bench right next to Him.