“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.” (Hebrews 4:9; NKJV)
The book of Hebrews contains a number of warning signs. One is found in Hebrews 3:12. The Israelites of old failed to enter the promised land of Canaan because of their “unbelief” (Hebrews 3:19). Hebrew Christians are warned about the possibility of being “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13). “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12; NKJV). It is possible to believe in God and to obey. It is also possible to hear His voice and to harden one’s heart in rebellion (Hebrews 3:7-8). According to the Hebrew writer, the choice is ours.
Life “under the sun” consists of lies, deception, temptation, sin, suffering, and death. We all suffer. Good people suffer. Bad people suffer. Everyone suffers. Suffering did not exist in Eden. It is a consequence of the fall. We live in a sin-cursed world. It was never God’s will for His people to suffer deception. It was never God’s will for His people to sorrow, to endure pain, to die. Sorrow, pain and suffering, swear or tears, and physical death remind us that things are amiss in this world (see Genesis 3:16-19).
Because of our suffering we are tired. Tired of the deception. Tired of the lies. Tired of our own sin and the sin of others. Tired of suffering. Life in a sin-cursed world is wearisome. We are tired.
The Hebrew writer speaks of rest in Hebrews chapters three and four. Rest communicates a ceasing from activity. By Hebraism, the word the Spirit uses in Hebrews has to do with an “abode” (Strong’s). In Hebrews 4:9 another word for “rest” is used by the Spirit. This word is sabbatismos. The Sabbath of the Old Covenant was a day of rest the people of God enjoyed once a week. The sabbatismos of Hebrews 4:9 “is the perpetual Sabbath ‘rest’ to be enjoyed uninterruptedly by believers in their fellowship with the Father and the Son, in contrast to the weekly Sabbath under the Law” (Vine’s). God knows our frame. He knows we are tired. He has provided something better for us.
Beloved, hang in there! Hold on to your faith! Like Joshua and Caleb, be strong and courageous in the Lord! “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience” (Hebrews 4:11; NKJV).
Jason
