For as long, then, as that promise of resting in Him pulls us on to God’s goal for us, we need to be careful that we’re not disqualified. We received the same promises as those people in the wilderness, but the promises didn’t do them a bit of good because they didn’t receive the promises with faith. If we believe, though, we’ll experience that state of resting. But not if we don’t have faith. Remember that God said,
Exasperated, I vowed,
“They’ll never get where they’re going,
never be able to sit down and rest.”
God made that vow, even though He’d finished his part before the foundation of the world. Somewhere it’s written, “God rested the seventh day, having completed his work,” but in this other text he says, “They’ll never be able to sit down and rest.” So this promise has not yet been fulfilled. Those earlier ones never did get to the place of rest because they were disobedient. God keeps renewing the promise and setting the date as today, just as He did in David’s psalm, centuries later than the original invitation:
Today, please listen,
don’t turn a deaf ear . . .
And so this is still a live promise. It wasn’t canceled at the time of Joshua; otherwise, God wouldn’t keep renewing the appointment for “today.” The promise of “arrival” and “rest” is still there for God’s people. God Himself is at rest. And at the end of the journey we’ll surely rest with God. So let’s keep at it and eventually arrive at the place of rest, not drop out through some sort of disobedience.
God means what He says. What He says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one can resist God’s Word. We can’t get away from it—no matter what.
Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to Him and get what He is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. Hebrews 4 MSG
Rest. One of most difficult concepts to understand and even more difficult to do correctly. What exactly is “rest” in God’s terms? There are certain nuggets of Truth in this passage in Hebrews to be pondered and searched out. As we get older rest takes on another experiential understanding. Especially in a spiritual sense. Knowing all those you love are in His bosom of love and are His — is a factor involved in that desire for ‘rest’. Working diligently on the assignments He has given us, with all love, prayer, and concern, listening closely to carry out every detail with obedience. ‘Standing in the gap’ for those not yet within His family whom we so desire to know Him. Learning the discipline of true worship and coming into His Presence regularly to refresh our heart and spirit. We then begin to get a real taste of rest when His Presence envelops us as only He can. Truly… Godly rest is the atmosphere of heaven. Is rest immobility? No. Is rest inactivity? No. Is rest quietness? Not necessarily. Real rest is perfect communion with God Himself, being one with Him in the deepest possible way, spirit, soul, and body. Do you need that kind of rest? I know I do — more than I understand. I pour out my heart to Him asking for His enveloping Presence and love. Then I ask He do the same for my wife and family.
We need to go to Jesus regularly …seeking Him so that we might be close to Him. We were made for this kind of ‘rest’.
Lord help us .. to learn Your rest.