HEBREWS 4:6
“Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who previously had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience,”
My wife and I care for our two youngest grandchildren four days a week, sometimes five. Let me just say – we look forward to our rest on the weekends. That rest, however, is never guaranteed. There have been times when we are needed on a Saturday or Sunday. Anticipated rest and guaranteed rest are two very different things.
The writer of Hebrews has been writing about God’s rest and who can enter and who cannot. But the fact remains that God’s rest is real. It is available to those who choose Jesus. I like what Albert Barnes says about this verse. “The ‘position’ … is that it was a settled or indisputable matter that some would enter into rest. The implied argument to prove this is: (1) that there was a ‘rest’ spoken of which deserved to be called a ‘divine rest,’ or the ‘rest of God;’ (2) it could not be supposed that God would prepare such a rest in vain, for it would follow that if he had suited up a world of rest, he designed that it should be occupied. As he knew, therefore, that they to whom it was first offered would not enter in, it must be that he designed it for some others, and that it ‘remained’ to be occupied by us now.”
ASK QUESTIONS (Command to Obey, Promise to claim, Sin to avoid, Application to make, Something new about God)
This is invariably a Promise to claim, is it not? I am reminded of the words of Jesus in John 14:1-3. “1 ‘Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be.’” What a promise, huh?
Do you know another promise from God that causes me to rest? The promise of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Again, in John 14 we read these words of Christ in verses 26-27. “26 ‘But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.’” What more could you ask for?
Are you in His rest? Are you indwelt with His Spirit? Do you have His peace? Oh, listen to me. You will never find true rest outside of Jesus. He has promised it and is good for it. His promises all come true. Will you trust Him. I am looking forward to my weekend rest, but I am really looking forward to my eternal rest.
Father, You have promised me Your rest and I am so grateful to have received it.
