Rest. Or Perish.

If you’re a regular here you will recognize the name Wally Latham. Here’s a piece he wrote and shared early in Lent2023, with highlights which are mine —-

God’s Sabbath-Rest or Perish: Which Do You Choose?

9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;

10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.

11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

— Hebrews 4:9-11

The good news of the gospel is that through Christ our High Priest the way has been paved for us to enter God’s rest. We praise God for the provision of this rest, and we remain in awe of the tremendous sacrifice that the High Priest made on Calvary to make this rest possible.

However, the author of Hebrews also reminds us that entering this rest requires obedience. It is not bestowed on all persons as some type of universal salvation. It rather is received by way of God’s grace through volitional faith and willful obedience.

To be clear: our entry into God’s rest is not earned by our good works and our obedience. The price was paid by Jesus’ blood on Calvary. Hence, we don’t earn it. We do, however, actively receive it through repentance, faith and obedience. We are urged “to “make every effort to enter that rest.”

What is the alternative? If we do not do what is required to enter this rest we will “perish by following their example of disobedience.”

While we must “make every effort to enter that rest,” this is not a salvation of works. As the author just said, “for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works.” To enter the rest of God is to end our own works creating our own salvation. In God’s rest we are free from this burden. Then all that is required of us is obedience. Obedience is a response. Always a response. And we are responsible for that response. To fail in our response is to “perish.”

Reflection
If God’s rest is experienced “by way of God’s grace through volitional faith and willful obedience,” have I activated my faith in His grace and willingly surrendered to him in joyful obedience? Is experiencing God’s rest my highest priority, such that I will “make every effort to enter that rest?” Is there any danger of my being disobedient and therefore “perish?”

Remember
Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

Prayer
I pray very simply today, Lord God. Please help me willfully surrender to you in joyful obedience.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen

— Join me in making that “Remember” reference into a complete first person plural understanding: “Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following our example of disobedience.“

KaBOOM.