Enter Into His Rest OR Disobey Him

Enter Into His Rest OR Disobey Him

Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. - Heb 4:11

I have read this verse countless of times, but it was until now that this jumps out at me.

The word ‘diligent’ in Greek means ‘to make haste, to make every effort’. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon uses ‘exert oneself, endeavor’. Some scholars find a direct link between ‘spoudazo’ (Greek word for diligent) and ‘pistis’ (Greek word for faith).

Heb 4:2-3 - For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with FAITH in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that REST... (emphasis added)

To be diligent to enter that rest also means that it requires faith to enter. Diligence and faith are often interlinked.

Why do we need to exert ourselves and be extremely eager to enter into that rest? Why do we need to be quick and make every effort to enter into that rest?

“...so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.” - Heb 4:11

Failing to enter into that rest results in disobedience. The Israelites experienced that. Where faith isn’t, disobedience is. These two cannot co-exist. We will always disobey Him if we don’t put our faith to enter that rest.

What exactly is that rest?

And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.” - Heb 4:4-5

For the Israelites, it had to do with the finished works of creation. They didn’t trust that God had finished and provided for everything they needed. They didn’t put their faith in Him. They didn’t enter His rest. As a result, they tried everything on their own efforts and disobeyed Him.

For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. - Heb 4:10

For us, it has to do with the finished works of Redemption.

If someone’s master art piece was finished, you stop trying to add yours to it (regardless of how creative you are).

The Cross is God’s master art piece. When Jesus cried, “It is finished!”, the works of redemption were complete. From then on, God ceased from His works.

Today, we are still trying to rely on our own effort when things don’t turn out the way we expect. We can’t rest when the situations don’t change. This IS DISOBEDIENCE because we TRY instead of TRUST.

If we do not make every effort and be quick to enter into His rest (finished works of Christ), if we are not extremely eager to put our faith in Him, we will follow the example of the Israelites in disobedience.

The Cross is not an event for us to believe and get saved. If that is true, we will continue to live the way we think is good. The Cross is the only Way for us to believe and live in. We need to rest in it and rest through it.

If we don’t begin and stay in what He had finished, then we are finished. The Christian Life is not a ‘strive’. It is a ‘REST’.

For whatever you are facing, ENTER into His REST.