Daily Devotions
Hebrews
It remains that some must enter it...
Text: Hebrews 4:6
WHY SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT ENTERING INTO GOD’S REST?
The author must have felt that everyone should be deeply concerned about entering into God’s rest, thus he went to such lengths to write about it. The rest of God is of incalculable value.
1. Immediate practical value
How wonderful it would be to come to Jesus and find rest for our souls. The burdens of life can be very wearying. It is unthinkable to go without the “rest” that Jesus promised those who would come to Him in faith. Let us give heed to what Jesus said.
“Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle
and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
2. Eternal value
There is another rest that must demand our attention. This is with reference to the matter of eternal rest in heaven. This subject is of such importance that the author felt that he must write to encourage his readers to examine their faith in God. Nothing could be more important than to be very sure about one’s eternal destiny.
MAKING SURE THAT WE DO NOT FORGO THIS PROMISED REST
Here is another word of exhortation to encourage all to examine why some ended up forgoing God’s promised “rest”.
“Since therefore it remains that some must enter it,
and those to whom it was first preached did not enter
because of disobedience.”
Hebrews 4:6
1. God planned this rest from the foundation of the world.
2. He has always invited mankind to enter into His rest.
3. The means of entry was simple:-
a) The sinner needs to hear the good news of salvation in Christ.
b) All he needs to do would be to exercise faith in God’s salvation through Christ.
4. Those who will not enter into God’s rest
These would be the ones who reject His offer of salvation. Instead they choose to walk in the path of disobedience!