Hebrews 4:1-16
1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.
2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “SO I SWORE IN MY WRATH, ‘THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,’ ” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS”;
5 and again in this place: “THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.”
6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience,
7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “TODAY,” after such a long time, as it has been said: “TODAY, IF YOU WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.
10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
For what God has already done to be effective in our lives by grace, what we have done, both good and bad, will have to be abandoned as our merit. Belief in the work of the cross will result in acceptance of its demonstration of mercy and grace, where God finished completely the work of redemption. Our new life in Him has been fully paid for and secured. It remains forever as a promise of rest for those who have become overwhelmed and discouraged by the dominance of sin and transgression in their life. The endless striving with those temptations and their devastating potential can be left at the throne of grace where what we can do is put to rest by what He has already done. It is forever waiting for us there, but wonderful rest will only be the life experience of those that allow its truth in the Word to produce obedience in adherence to that truth. The only way this can work is when the time for it becomes “now”. It’s a wonderful thought and delightful contemplation, but only when faith results in bold steps that are no longer procrastinating can there ever be knowing of the rest that is His amazing provision. The power of what He has done is released to impact the heart that lets go of all hardness for pure and unrestrained belief.
I love how Paul writes in various verb tenses: what was done, past, is now, for us and continues with grace sufficient for each day. He set His sights and we were in it, then and now, in this time, the promises are for us, He moves, He speaks, He is living. Wow. The Lord’s rest, come My yoke is light and burden easy, we can’t do it, but Him, we come, just come.