Hebrews 4:1-5: a reflection

1Let’s fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest. 2For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn’t profit them, because it wasn’t mixed with faith by those who heard. 3For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest;” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4For he has said this somewhere about the seventh day, “God rested on the seventh day from all his works;” 5and in this place again, “They will not enter into my rest.”

The writer of Hebrews warns his readers not to miss the rest God promises. He looks back at the generation in the wilderness, who heard the good news of God's promise but never entered his rest, and he names the reason: The word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. They heard the promise, but they did not believe it, and so it did them no good. And the warning stands for us: we, too, have heard good news, and it profits us only when joined with faith.

Notice the crucial thing that made the difference: faith. The wilderness generation heard the same good news of God's promise that we hear; the problem was not that they lacked the message, but that they did not mix it with faith. Hearing alone did not profit them; the word had to be believed to do them good. It is not enough to hear God's promise; we must believe it, unite it with faith, and so enter into what it offers.

That is a searching word, for it is possible to hear God's good news, even to hear it often, and yet not to profit from it, because we do not truly believe it. The gospel we hear does us good only when we receive it with faith, taking God at his word and resting on his promise. Do not be content merely to have heard God's promises; ask whether you have believed them, united them with faith, entered into them. The good news profits us when it is mixed with faith. Hear God's promise, and believe it; take him at his word, rest on what he has said, and enter by faith into the rest he offers, rather than hearing without believing, as those who never entered in.

Lord, the writer of Hebrews warns that the wilderness generation heard your good news but did not profit from it, because they did not unite it with faith; hearing alone did not help them, for they did not believe. Search me by that word. It is possible for me to hear your good news, even often, and yet not profit from it, because I do not truly believe it. Your gospel does me good only when I receive it with faith, taking you at your word and resting on your promise. Keep me from being content merely to have heard your promises; help me ask whether I have believed them, united them with faith, entered into them. Help me not just to hear your promise but to believe it, to take you at your word, rest on what you have said, and enter by faith into the rest you offer. Give me faith to receive what you promise, that your word may profit me and bring me into your rest.