Rest of God
Rest of God. Take some time today to ponder your own
salvation. On what do you base your assurance of salvation; only those
who look to Christ alone for their salvation will truly enter God's
eternal rest.
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.”
Hebrews 4:1-7, NKVJ
Rest of God
I live in a "Christian" nation; probably at least 80% of the people would tell you that they are Christians. Though this country was founded upon Christian principles, not much exists today of the Godly principles exhibited in that time. Biblical laws are broken daily by the laws of the land. As we think upon this state of my country; actually, the state of the world, we will look at some verses from Hebrews 4.
At the
beginning of this chapter, the writer immediately challenges us as to
our own personal claim of entering into the eternal rest of God. He goes
on to state that the Gospel of Christ was preached to many, but only
those who heard the Gospel mixed with faith truly profited from it. Only
those who truly believe will enter into that rest.
In verses 3 through 5 we are again faced with the timelessness of God. As we read in Genesis, And God rested on the seventh day from all His works. The point the writer is making is that all of God's works were completed on the 7th
day, even the salvation of men. Do you understand that? I don't. We can
not imagine an existence without time. Your salvation depends entirely
upon God, not upon yourself; don't rest upon your own merits, but go to
Christ, who alone can save you.
Peter warns us in 1 Peter 1:10, Therefore,
brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure,
for if you do these things you will never stumble.
Look at the writer's conclusion in Hebrews 4:7,
“Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:
“ Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts.”
This
is a sobering challenge to all who claim to be Christians. Take some
time today to ponder your own salvation. On what do you base your
assurance of salvation; only those who look to Christ alone for their
salvation will truly enter God's eternal rest.
Pray that you will not be among those of whom God said, They shall not enter my rest.
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