Hebrews 4:11-13 (ESV)
Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. [12] For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. [13] And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
We should strive to enter the rest that God provides, which is Christ Himself, so that we will not fall like the children of Israel fell in their disobedience. That is verse 11. Then the author says, “for the Word of God is living and active…”. In other words, the reason we should strive to enter God’s rest and not fall like the Israelites did is because the Word of God is powerful.
What’s the connection? How do the qualities of the Word of God enable us to strive to enter the rest of God? The Bible is about Jesus Christ. If we are to enter into the rest of Christ then it will be because we heeded the message of the Word of God. It is through the Word that we will not fall into apostasy. If we ignore the Scriptures we ignore what God has given us to prevent us from falling into sin. If we take our salvation and obedience seriously then we will be careful to have our lives changed by the powerful living soul piercing Word of God.
Ignorance and avoidance of the Scriptures are testimony that we are not really serious about our walk with God and it is a serious testimony that our hearts are not right with Him. The people of Israel who died in the wilderness were sure they were the people of God. They would not listen to the Words of God and they perished. People fool themselves if they think they are believers but will not avail themselves of what God has provided for them to keep them from falling.
Strive to enter the rest of God – pay attention to the Scriptures. God has given the Bible. You need it. It will not fail you. You can fail it and if you do it is because you are like those who fell in the wilderness.
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