Hebrews 4:14 (ESV)
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
Hebrews 3 and 4 are a single unit of thought. Chapter 3 begins with a challenge to "consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession." Chapter 4 ends with the challenge to hold fast our confession because Jesus is our "great high priest." This raises the question: How do we hold fast our confession? The answer is tied right back to Jesus.
Faithfulness in holding fast our confession is not about working harder. In fact, Hebrews 4:10 reminds us that, "whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his." The challenge in these two chapters takes the form of a warning, but they are not a challenge to double down on our commitment and give it all we've got. Rather, they are a challenge to let go and trust. "Strive to enter that rest," Hebrews 4:11 tells us. The word "strive" means to hurry toward or fervently act. We are told then to move quickly to enter God's rest. Don't hesitate. Don't wait. But, again we come back to the question: How?
Chapter 4 ends with these reminders which may help us answer the "how" questions:
God's word judges, decides or discerns the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. (Heb 4:12)
Notice that it does not say, "God's word reveals the commands we must obey. They may be true, but that is not the point here. The point is that rest has to do with thoughts and intentions, not external submission and obedience. Perhaps that is why Romans 12 reminds us that transformation begins with renewing the mind, not with hard work and deep commitment. All real, substantive change must begin with our fundamental beliefs. Lies are at the root of sin, truth is the foundation for holiness.
God sees everything and everyone will ultimately answer to him. (Heb 4:13)
Remember Jesus warning to the Pharisees in Matthew 7:22 (ESV)
On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'
How could they be "workers of lawlessness" if they were casting out demons in his name and doing mighty works in his name? The answer lies in understanding that God is not primarily interested in actions, but in hearts. How and why we do something is more important to God than what we do. Do an "act of love" out of coercion, fear, envy or resentment and it is not an act of love in the eyes of God. When Hebrews says that everything is exposed to God's eyes it is reminding us that God sees not only what we do, but how and why we do it. God sees the heart.
We have a high priest who understands our weaknesses. Therefore, we can confidently "draw near to the throne of grace. (Heb 4:14-16)
Rest begins at the foot of God's "throne of grace." It begins with recognizing our own weaknesses, accepting the reality that Jesus already knows and understands those weaknesses, and falling on our faces at the foot of his throne fully expecting grace, not condemnation.
So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God (Hebrews 4:9) May we fervently run to the throne of grace and find rest.
By His grace,
Rick Weinert
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