David Bahn – Reflections

Hebrews 4:1-10

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. ² 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.

I don’t know too many people who really believe that heaven is an experience of being a chubby angel sitting on a fluffy white cloud, while playing a harp. But it seems clear that people’s vision of heaven is little more appealing than that. The same might be said of the idea of Sabbath rest: It’s not something that holds great appeal to many. Whether we’re busy because we are seeking to escape being quiet with God in the first place, or because we are so taken by our pursuit of the world’s treasures, or because we are so hooked on the adrenaline rush of the latest extreme experience, the outcome is the same: being at rest with God is not on our list of favorite – or even good – things we desire.

That is a greater loss than we realize. As St. Augustine says in his Confessions, “God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you.” In the moments of our sanity – when we are aware of our need for God and his grace and truth – we might seek to be near to him in prayer and the deep community of Savior and Saved. But today, more than likely, we simply need the reminder that we do have restless hearts because we are not resting in God. And if our hearts are at peace we will rejoice in this intimate relationship and embrace God’s promises and commands with faith.

Hebrews 4:1-10

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. ² 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. ³ For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. ⁴ For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” ⁵ And again in this passage he said,

⁶ Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, ⁷ again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,

⁸ For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. ⁹ So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, ¹⁰ for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.