Fear and the REST of the story

(Read Hebrews 4)
by contributing author

 

Hebrews 4 reminds us that by living life without faith, we do not achieve God’s favor. We should be fearful of unbelief, and be fearful of being short of God’s rest (salvation).

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

“So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.'”

God has made a place for us to rest — no more work, no more sin, no more greed, jealousy, or anger. The writer of Hebrews was using the concept of God’s rest with different meanings. This could include, rest in the peace of God, rest in the promised Land, and a mirrored rest of God after the 6th day of Creation. The promise of the rest of God for his people still abides; the danger is that we fail to reach it.

The Israelites of Moses’ day failed to enter into the rest of God. After their lack of trust in God to be carry them through their challenges, they never entered into the settlement of the Promised Land. Unlike the people in the wilderness who disobeyed God, we can find this rest as true believers of Christ. We can learn from the people in the wilderness, listen to when God is talking, not ignoring him, and having faith in his plan. Faith is a very powerful thing, but we must work on it every day.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

We shouldn’t be fearful of trusting in God, we should be fearful not to. Real Christian fear shouldn’t make us run away from our beliefs, or paralyze us, it should turn us into action and devotion.

Everything in our lives is visible to God. We can hide our faults and wrong doings with disguises, but in the presence of God, these things are clear and visible and point to exactly who we are.

Throughout the struggles, challenges, and trials of our lives, there is never a time where God cannot say: “I have been there.” When we’re devastated by the loss of a loved one, brought to tears of sadness, we should turn to a God who has been there.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

One time in my past, I brought some college friends with me and entered the apartment of a long time family friend through an unlocked slider door. My friends who lived in the apartment weren’t home yet and didn’t know we were coming. We didn’t want anything, we were from out of town and needed a place to stay. We were loud and partying and trespassing. When our friends arrived home, they were astonished and (somehow) calmly told us to leave. They followed up with a stern letter but did not tell the rest of their family or my parents.

When I think about it, almost 40 years later, I’m still haunted by this trespass. I have apologized a million times. I wrote them a letter and tried to make right a serious wrong. A few years ago, I apologized again to my longtime friends, and they simply said that they had forgiven me not long after the incident happened. They weren’t happy but they forgave me. Ironically, I’m still close friends with the people who’s apartment we trespassed, and I haven’t kept in touch with my former college friends.

God understands. He knows our problems because he has seen them all. God is the best person to give us advice and counsel because he knows it all. God will forgive you if you let him walk with you.

Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.