Daily Journal: 22 September

Running Towards Rest

Hebrews 4:1 (NIV)

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.

Running eventually becomes tiring, even for the most fit. It’s heartbreaking to see someone running their race and fall short of completing it because their bodies give out; they haven’t prepared themselves well before the race or fed themselves enough nutrients during the race.

1 Corinthians 9:24 (AMP)

Run [your race] in such a way that you may seize the prize and make it yours!

In a marathon, which we can compare to life’s race, runners need to endure. There are many times in a marathon that runners may want to give up. It’s their mental capacity that really gets them over the finish line. During the race runners have to feed themselves with electrolytes and energy so that their bodies can endure. People cheer them on during the race and people wait for them at the end. It’s common for runners to collapse immediately after the finish line because they need rest. Their muscles and their minds have pushed themselves to the limit and all they're focused on at the end is that they're running towards rest. They’ve been waiting, longing, for that moment when it’s over and they can say they finished their race. They gave everything they had.

This is the race we’re running in life.

Hebrew 3:6 (NLV)

But Christ was faithful as a Son Who is Head of God’s house. We are of God’s house if we keep our trust in the Lord until the end. This is our hope.

Christ ran His race and endured even the cross, and He will welcome us at the end of our race, if we endure. But there is a cautionary reminder in Hebrews chapter three. The Israelites saw all that God did for them for 40 years and yet their hearts were against Him.

Hebrews 3:11 (NIV)

So I declared on oath in my anger, “They shall never enter my rest.’”

I don’t want to be cast out and never enter His rest. People who don’t receive Christ on earth will never enter into rest. They will always and forever be in turmoil, weeping. And they will know they could have had rest.

Hebrews 3:13-14 (NLT)

You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.

One day, we’ll have a glorious day if we persevere to the end; if we are not deceived, or let our hearts turn against the truth of Christ. If we place all of our hope in the Head of God’s house we will enter into the joy of the Lord, which is our rest (Matthew 25). If we receive the forgiveness of Christ and live in His love, we will cross our finish line and He will be waiting for us with open arms. If – then, we will hear those words, “enter into your rest”.

And these three will remain - faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13). Forever.