Hebrews 4:12-13

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of 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 4:12-13 ESV)

Think about a sword so sharp it pierces through the thick, hard part of your bone, into the tender, living core of the bone called marrow, and then separates them.  Think about being totally exposed, naked, no way to cover yourself or hide.

These are graphic images.  In these verses, we find an intense warning that we cannot hide faithlessness or disobedience from God, because His Word pierces through the things we do and say, and sees what is in our heart.  The Bible is not just a bunch of wise words to live by so we can be better people and things will go well for us.  It is the personal, powerful word of God.  We don’t just sit down, read, and study the Word.  The Word searches us too, and at times it crushes us.  It splits us open and exposes all of secret thoughts and the real reasons why we do what we do.  It cuts away everything we look like we are on the outside and reveals what is underneath it all.  In one sense, this is terrifying. There are things in all of our hearts and minds we would be ashamed for other people to know, even though those people are sinners like us.  Then, to think about Holy God knowing every selfish desire, lustful thought, hateful feeling, moment of unbelief… It’s a scary reality- naked, exposed, no place to hide.  But, in reality this is God’s grace on display.  The Word of God cuts deep, shows us the fullness of our sin, and traces it back to its root- unbelief.  This happened for each of us at the point of salvation, showing us our need for a Savior.  Now, as we stay in the Word of God, this will continue to happen.  We want this to happen. We want these areas exposed and dealt with so we can grow more in Christ’s image.

Hebrews: 4 – Entering God’s Rest

Hebrews 4- Entering God’s Rest

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.  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.

(Hebrews 4:1-2 ESV)

THE PROMISE OF ENTERING HIS REST STILL STANDS

The exodus generation had been enslaved in Egypt, wandering through the wilderness for years, and they longed for rest; the rest of being free men in a land of their own.  No more oppression.  No more nomadic lifestyle.  Just rest.  Caleb and Joshua would be the only two of that entire generation to reach the Promised Land.  But God’s rest is about much more than the Promised Land.  That is why David writes about God’s rest in Psalm 95 years after Joshua led the next generation into Canaan.  The promise of entering God’s rest is still for us today.  This is a rest from all toil, and fear, and suffering; a rest from warring against our flesh and against the enemy.  This rest is spending eternity in the presence of Jesus.  God rested on the seventh day because His work was complete.  The believer can rest because Christ’s work on the cross is complete.

HEARING THE GOOD NEWS

The exodus generation heard the good news of the Promised Land.  They left Egypt in pursuit of it, but ultimately the news itself did not do them any good because they had no faith.  Verse 2 says, “they (the exodus generation) were not united by faith with those who listened (Caleb and Joshua)”.  We have also received good news; the good news that God sent his Son to become man, live the righteous life we could not live, and to lay down his life to pay for our sins.  We have heard the good news that Christ rose again, and offers salvation to all who repent and believe.  But simply hearing the message will not carry us through the struggles of this life on to the shores of eternity.  Hearing the Word of God is essential, but it must not be an end in itself; it must result in faith.  It is faith in Christ that will produce the perseverance that will spur us on until the day we finally and completely enter God’s rest.

Jesus the Founder of Our Salvation

Throughout the book of Hebrews, we see many different aspects of who Jesus is.  Chapter 2 focuses on Jesus as the founder of our salvation.  In chapter 2 verse 5, the author of Hebrews begins to reflect upon Psalm 8.  This psalm describes man being in a position of dominion over the earth.  The author of Hebrews highlights the tension that exists because, while we know God created man in a position of authority, we do not see all things in subjection to mankind right now.  This is a result of man falling into sin when tempted by the devil in the garden.  Instead of creation being subject to man, mankind is now subject to sin and death; and the enemy wields the fear of death to keep us in slavery.  However, the author shows us how Jesus, by His death, won back the dominion we lost.  Jesus became a real human being and shared in everything it means to be human, so “that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”  Jesus’ death was not a display of weakness; it was Jesus waging war against our sin and against our greatest enemies: death and the devil.  Jesus rose victoriously out of death and was “crowned with glory and honor.”  By “tasting death for everyone,” He became the founder, or pioneer, of our salvation.  Jesus blazed a trail from death into glory.  He satisfied the wrath of God and removed the sting from death, so those who believe in Him will never experience the death He experienced.  For the believer, death is now a seamless path from this world into the eternal presence of God.