HEBREWS 4:5

“and again in this passage, ‘THEY CERTAINLY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.’”

Some warnings are worth repeating. Have you ever been to an amusement park with rides where they gave warnings before you rode? I have. In some of those parks, the staff manning that ride departure will give detailed instructions about what you are not allowed to do. For instance, they may say, “Don’t unstrap yourself while the ride is in motion.” That’s good advice. But it is when they repeat these instructions two or three times that you understand the seriousness of it.

The writer repeats what he wrote back in chapter 3 and verse 11. “AS I SWORE IN MY ANGER, ‘THEY CERTAINLY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.’” I don’t think he needed to say this again to the letter’s recipients because they were aware of these words and the story behind it. He was giving them a reminder of the seriousness of their decision to accept His rest or not. Refusing His rest has dire consequences.

ASK QUESTIONS (Command to Obey, Promise to claim, Sin to avoid, Application to make, Something new about God)

The Sin to avoid is clear – don’t refuse His rest. Some people shrug it off and say, “God won’t send anyone to hell. He loves everyone.” Both of those statements are true but need clarification. Of course, God loves everyone. John 3:16 tells us that. We are also told that it in 2 Peter 3:9. “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.”

But…God does NOT send anyone to hell. They choose hell by refusing His rest which is Jesus Christ. Just as the Hebrews refused to obey God and enter the Promised Land (His rest), so we too will die in our sins if we refuse His rest (Jesus Christ). The gift of His rest is free. But it costs us everything. We must surrender our all. You know that hymn, don’t you? All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give.

So, I ask you today – have you entered into His rest? Have you surrendered your all to Jesus? There is no rest outside of knowing His rest. Those without it may seem to get by in this world, but we know they will not have their final rest. Some people don’t believe in hell, or they think it’s just going to be a big party with all their lost friends. The Bible teaches differently. It says there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. That doesn’t sound too restful to me. So, here is your warning again. Pay close attention to the instructions.

Father God, I am so thankful I have chosen to follow Your rest – Jesus Christ.