Celia Stone: Rest is reward for trusting God

In chapter four of the letter to the Hebrews, the author writes to Jewish Christians about the promise of entering God’s rest.

He reiterates that God rested on the seventh day and that almost every adult Israelite who wandered in the desert all or part of those 40 years did not enter the rest of the Promised Land. Due to their lack of faith and their short memory regarding God’s miraculous rescue at the Red Sea, the land flowing with milk and honey was never to be their home.

Joshua, Caleb and the younger Israelites got to go in and enjoy this land, described as a fertile place where feeding one’s family did not have to be labor intensive. They could enjoy milk produced by animals and honey produced by bees. Rest was a blessing for those who trusted and obeyed God.

“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:9-13.

The New International Version translates verse 11 as, “Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.”

The Christian, trusting alone in God’s grace while actively moving towards holiness, is making every effort to enter God’s rest. This effort is not undertaken alone. The rest for our souls comes as we realize that we can’t pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. Our rest has been secured by Christ alone.

By a process of studying the word of God, and asking for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, the maturing Christian becomes better able to discern personal motivation. This will be a continual process until we enter eternal rest, where we will give an account of what we have done and failed to do.

“My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore, judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.” 1 Corinthians 4:4-5.

“All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:2-3.