A Nation of Unbelievers
by adamsteins
“Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
-Hebrews 4:11-12
Bible teacher John MacArthur comments on this passage by saying that “the Word of God is comforting and nourishing to those who believe, [but] it is a tool of judgment and execution for those who have not committed themselves to Jesus Christ… [The Hebrews] intellectually, were partly persuaded, but inside they were not committed to Him. God’s Word would expose their shallow beliefs and even their false intentions.” (MacArthur Bible Commentary)
Do you say that you believe in Jesus, but don’t practice because you think you’re doing enough? What if you do practice, but you often get caught up in denying what the Spirit is telling you? Are we not to deny ourselves and commit our lives fully to the One who fully committed His life to the Father for us? Unbelief doesn’t have to just be subjected to an unbeliever. Many Christians follow Jesus, but are blind to faith. Think back to Acts when Saul was met face to face with Jesus. He was blinded for three days without sight. This reminds me of what Paul later wrote in his second epistle to the Corinthians, “We walk by faith, not by sight” (5:7). Just because we say we are walking with the Lord does not mean that we are walking in faith of the Lord.
It’s no easy task to be part of this world and persevere to have solid faith in all circumstances even when things seems to be falling apart. The author of Hebrews wrote in chapter 3 verse 14, “For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.” As partakers of Christ we are literally called to persevere until trials and pressures. We are to hold our confidence in Christ, by what we know God can do. If we continually neglect God’s power in our lives we will become “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
The Israelites were the “house” of God that Moses led during the Exile. This is the “house” in which the author is speaking of in the third chapter of Hebrews (vv. 2-5). The house had angered the Lord through their unbelief. The Lord says, “Your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation…’They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.’” (Heb. 3:9-10)
Imagine yourself being led through the desert by God’s chosen one, and just when you thought that you were all destined for death, God showed up and saved you. Again, you were on the brink of death from starvation and the Lord delivered manna to for the whole nation. Then all of a sudden, things started to look bad again and you cracked under the pressure. You then began to worship a false idol because it brought your senses instant gratification rather than fearful dependence upon the Lord. Think about this whole scenario. Is this not what we do still to this day? Bills that need to be paid, but not enough money is being brought it. Your children that need to be fed, but there’s not enough resources. Work that needs to be done, but your computer crashes. How do you react in tough situations? Do you start to look for instant gratification by confiding in others, getting angry, or just sweeping your problems under the rug? Is this not unbelief in God’s power over your life? Does he not want us to go out in daily desperation for Him? God said that, “[Unbelievers] shall not enter My rest.” (3:11) God has abundance rest for us. But “we see that they could not enter in [God's rest] because of unbelief.” (v.19)
The author of Hebrews certainly knew the Old Testament like the back of his hand. He creates unique references throughout the book of Hebrews that makes such statements as “God’s rest” a reality. In chapter 4 the author cites that God’s rest is a promise that remains open (v. 1). After the Israelites reached the promised land they found earthly rest, but many did not receive the heavenly rest in which God spoke of in Psalm 95 (which is referenced throughout Hebrews 3 & 4). God’s spiritual rest remains open for us “Today” (Ps. 95:7).
However, there are believers and unbelievers, alike, who refuse to find God’s heavenly rest because they find a joy and comfort within the things of this world. Too often people will have a drink with others instead of witnessing to those drunk on the streets. So many times I see people sacrificing their beliefs by watching a movie that the world reviewed as “excellent.” These things are earthly and thus, will only bring an earthly rest. All the while, God asks us to give up these things and to seek Him through that which tries to blind us. Christians are sojourners to this world. Let us start acting like we believe that our true home is a heavenly one beyond this earth.
“Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience” (4:11). What pattern do you live your life? Simply put, whichever pattern you live is the pattern you will follow. So I pray for your sake that it is a godly pattern in which you can find rest, even when everything in you wants to fight the urge to rebel. The author of Hebrews lists three important issues that cause a person to willingly be wrought with unbelief: rebellion (v.16), repeated sin (v.17), and disobedience (v.18). All three of these lead to the conclusion posted in verse 19: “they could not enter in [to God's rest] because of unbelief.“
In conclusion, we find God’s rest to be real and unbelief, between believers and unbelievers, to also be true. How must one make sure to stay in God’s rest and believe in His faithfulness? His Word. There is nothing else more powerful and satisfying than the Word of God. With this, Hebrew’s author followed up his comment about the “pattern of disobedience” (4:11) by guiding the readers’ attention to the Word of God: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” John MacArthur writes in his Bible Commentary that, “It is the Word which must be believed and obeyed and the Word which will judge the disobedient… We are accountable to the living, written Word and to the living God who is its author.”
There is no other way to look at it. The word is all powerful because it comes from an Almighty and all-knowing God. It is His life-transforming Word, and without following it we are deliberately choosing not to follow its Author, thus deliberately choosing to follow “the same pattern of disobedience” in which the world contends to. If we say we believe in the Lord with our mouths, then let us confess our faith in Him with the same mouth. Our God is bigger than our worries and our concerns. Let us not turn to unbelief for “the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4).
Good word Adam. Thanks for the reminder to put my thoughts and cares in God first.