HOW TO ENTER GOD’S REST
Hebrews 4:11-16
"Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience."
"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30.
The Christian life is not to be one of striving to earn favor with the Lord. Rather, it is a life entered into, and lived out by faith. We are exhorted to rest in God. That is, we are to simply trust Him to do in us what only He can do. In the first part of this chapter we took a look at three examples of rest. (1) Creation rest, (2) Canaan rest, and (3) Calvary rest. On the seventh day of creation, God rested. That is, He stepped back to enjoy His creation. But sin entered and that rest was marred as far as man is concerned. Canaan rest speaks of God’s desire to lead the children of Israel into the land of promise. Again that rest was marred because of rebellion and the sin of unbelief. Calvary rest means that Jesus has paid in full the penalty for our sins. We do not merit, nor can we achieve salvation by good works. It is to be experienced by faith in the Son of God and in His finished work on the cross.
In spite of the fact that Jesus paid it all for us on the cross, people continue to struggle, trying to earn the Christian life. If that is your situation today, I plead with you to stop trying, and start trusting. Be diligent to enter into that rest. How can we enter into God’s rest life? Verses 12-16 gives us some guidance.
I. TAKE HEED TO THE WORD OF GOD. (12-13)
The Bible is the written Word of God that reveals to us the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ. Verses 12-13 is a classic passages on the power of the written word of God. These two verses reveal several characteristics regarding the written Word of God.
A. THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING. The word "Quick" in KJV means "living." The Word of God is a living book. I found a Bible left at church by a young Christian. He had written on the cover these words, "This book is alive." God’s Word, our Bible, is not a dead book out of the distant past. It is the living Word of the living God. That Word is personified in Jesus Christ. The Bible is a living book for today’s world. It is relevant for every generation.
B. THE WORD OF GOD IS POWERFUL. That is, it is active and energetic. No one can read the Bible with an open heart and an open mind and remain the same. My pastor during my seminary days in New Orleans gave a copy of Phillips New Testament to one of the leading mafia leaders. After a couple of weeks he sent it back saying, "It bothers me."
A student in the seminary give his personal testimony. He was in prison and was given a Gideon New Testament. As read that little New Testament, the Holy Spirit began to work in His life. As he gave his testimony that day he read the pardon that he had received from the governor of Louisiana. Then he said, "The greatest thing that ever happened to me was when the Lord Jesus pardoned me from all my sins." God’s word was powerful in his life.
C. THE WORD OF GOD IS CUTTING. It is sharper than a sword of two edges, which cuts both ways. It is piercing. The Word of God rightly applied becomes as a surgeon’s knife. By the Word, God lays bear the innermost parts of a man’s life. He judges the thoughts and intents of the heart. Just as the surgeon opens the body to discover and remove diseased organs and tissue, so the Word of God opens our lives to the work of God in us, to rid us of that which defiles the spirit and soul.
D. THE WORD OF GOD IS REVEALING. (V.13) The author unknowingly anticipated a powerful microscope. Not one thing is hidden from God. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account. It is amazing how people try to hide from the preacher, but that they can’t hide from God.
II. HOLD FAST TO THE SON OF GOD (4:14-15)
That is, hold fast to our profession of faith in the person and in the work of Jesus Christ. "Hold fast" means to seize, to grasp with power, hold on and don’t let go. In these verses we discover that Jesus Christ is the unique Son of God, our Savior. He is also our High Priest. The High Priest in the Old Testament entered into the Holy of Holies once a year to make atonement for the people. Jesus has entered into the heavens into the very presence of the Father, as our High Priest. Note:
A. JESUS IS A GREAT HIGH PRIEST. The theme of Hebrews is the superiority, the greatness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is better than anything. He is greater than any priest of the Old Testament period. He offered a greater sacrifice. His priesthood is eternal.
B. JESUS IS A SYMPATHETIC HIGH PRIEST. Sometimes man sees Jesus as being so far above us that he is unsympathetic to our situation, our hurts, our temptations, etc. Yet in His humanity, Jesus shared in the trials and temptations endured by all of us.
C. JESUS IS A VICTORIOUS HIGH PRIEST. In all points He was tempted as we are, yet without sin. It is not a sin to be tempted. Sin comes when we yield to that temptation. The fact that he passed through the heaven and sat down at the right hand of God means that his saving work of the cross is fully accomplished. This speaks of his victory over sin, over Satan, over death. Jesus is victor, so hold fast in faith to the Son, our great High Priest.
III. COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF GOD. (4:16)
In the Old Testament only the High Priest could enter into the Holy of Holies and then only once a year. When Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the Temple was rent from top to bottom signifying that the way into God’s presence was open for everyone. In Christ, we are invited to come boldly to the Throne of Grace.
This verse is an invitation to prayer. You and I as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have the glorious privilege of approaching the very throne of God. Prayer is our hot line to heaven, to God himself. We are admonished to "come boldly" or confidently to the Throne. As we approach the throne in faith, we will find just what we need.
A. WE WILL FIND HIS MERCY. As I look back on my life, I must admit that many times I have failed my Lord. If I got justice then hell would be too good for me. As I come to the throne of God, not on the basis of my merit, but in the name of the Lord Jesus, bringing with me all my imperfections, my sin, my troubles, I discover his mercy.
Oh yes, God is a just God. But His justice is tempered with mercy. I find at the throne, his sympathy, his care, his love, his understanding, his forgiveness, his mercy. All of that may be found at the throne. Praise the Lord.
B. WE WILL FIND HIS GRACE. In other words, we will find much more than mercy. We will find his grace to help in time of need. When I am struggling with some great temptation, He is there to help me. When I am hurting so bad, He is there to wipe away the tears and to mend my broken heart. When the world seems to be caving in around me, He is there to hold me and set my feet upon a rock. When I do not know what to do He is there to guide me. When I am weak, He is my strength. When I am lonely, I discover at the throne that He is still living inside me by His Holy Spirit. When I am exhausted by the struggles of life, I discover at the throne that I have rest in Him.
Once Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30.
I do not know how many times I have had to claim that promise when I have grown tired in the struggle. It usually happens when I have tried to do the work of God in my own energy. Often I have had to say, "Lord, I am so tired. There is no strength left in me. Yet you said in your word, that if we labor and are heavy laden, all we have to do is come to you and you would give us rest. Lord I come to you now and ask you to give rest to my soul. Thank you Lord for fulfilling your promise in me."
For those of you who have never accepted the Lord Jesus into your life, that verse is also for you. Come to Jesus now. Tell Him your need. Tell Him that you are a sinner, and that you cannot save yourself. Tell Him that you believe Jesus died on the cross for your sins and that He rose again from the dead, and that you are now trusting Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
The Bible says, "for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13) Invite The Lord Jesus Christ to come into your life and save you right now.
