So I swore in My wrath, “They shall not enter My rest.”

.... Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God (Hebrews 3:11, 12). In context, the writer to the Hebrews is talking about the rebellious ways of Israel (verses 8-10). They and we fail to enter rest, through unbelief which is equated with departing from the living God in this mornings verses and with disobedience in verses 18 and 19. Because of these things, the writer can speak of an evil heart of unbelief. The “rest” spoken of is both here and now, and of course in eternity in heaven. We read “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30:15). Evil flows out of the heart, for “They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways” (verse 10; Matthew 15:19).

In terms of the here and now, as the Isaiah reference makes clear, there is strength in quietness and confidence. Confidence springs out of a settled faith. If we truly knew and truly believed that God is actively at work for good in all things, then we could relax (rest) and enjoy the journey. But the man or woman of faith does know this (Romans 8:28). To say it another way, the person of faith needs to learn to operate from a position of rest. We do not need to strive for victory in the battle, we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37), and Christ always leads us in triumphant procession (2 Corinthians 2:14). What we are being told, is that we do not need to strive for victory, it is already won. We may have to wait patiently for it of course. And waiting is hard, at least I have found it to be so. We need to learn to wait in quietness and confidence, and when we do, we will effortlessly soar on wings like the eagle (Isaiah 40:31).

 So why do we struggle so? In the end it's unbelief, it's not knowing His ways. “If God be for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all (necessary) things” (Romans 8:31, 32)? Paradoxically we are to strive to enter rest (4:11 ESV). Other versions have “be diligent,” and “make every effort.” The same verse makes it clear that such diligence has to do with obedience, “so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.” What is being emphasized here is that unbelief and disobedience lead to falling away, all of which is departing from the living God. And I am reminded this morning that our struggle is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). And for me being diligent to enter into rest is about stopping fighting people and circumstances that God has allowed in my life to refine me (Romans 8:29).

 Father, nobody is saying this is easy, but learning to enter Your rest in the here and now is part of fighting the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12). Thank You Lord that You have not left us unequipped in this struggle, but by Your divine power You have already given us everything we need to live a godly life through our relationship with Jesus, Your Word and our exceedingly great and precious promises (2 Peter 1:3, 4). In Jesus Name Amen