“Let Us Fear!”

Hebrews 4:1-7 (ESV)

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. ² For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.³ For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’”

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. ⁴ For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” ⁵ And again in this passage he said,

“They shall not enter my rest.”

⁶ Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, ⁷ again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”

The first thing you may notice is – There are two historical rest events referred to here, documented in the Old Testament: The rest of God after His creative work, and the rest God promised to the nation of Israel, that only Joshua and Caleb received.

There is another rest promise. And, based on Psalms 95, this other rest promise comprehends the perfect work of the Messiah, which eventually enables God’s people to have fellowship with God eternally.

Now, what could keep a child of God from entering that ultimate rest? The same thing that kept Moses and the Israelites from entering their rest in Canaan – unbelief which results in disobedience.

Once that danger is discovered – when should the person change and get back on course? “Today, if you will hear His voice.”