Letter to the Hebrews Volume 33

 The Eternal Rest for All of God the Father's Adopted Children Part 6

Hebrews 4:10 For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His. KJV Note: CEV = Contemporary English Version

The goodness of humanity is now and has always been a very authentic certainty, that is, it has always been widely accepted by many, most, and the majority of human beings that some people are born good and others are born bad. It is defined, discovered, and determined by what the child grows up and performs or does during the course of their life here on the earth. Those that are born good work hard in showing that innate, inborn, and inherited goodness by the wonderful things they do in the world. The reasoning for their 'doing good' is that they were born good. Those born bad are those who hurt others and they likewise do so because they were born bad and they can only work at performing bad things during the course of their lives on the earth. This is not my theory, but the one that has been theorized or speculated by most of humanity for centuries. However, when we go to the Bible (the One and Only source of absolute Truth) we find something completely opposite to what many human beings have thought and continue to think about themselves. The Bible declares this about all human beings on the earth, "The Scriptures tell us, No one is acceptable to God! Not one of them understands or even searches for God. They have all turned away and are worthless. There isn't one person who does right. Their words are like an open pit, and their tongues are good only for telling lies. Each word is as deadly as the fangs of a snake, and they say nothing but bitter curses. These people quickly become violent. Wherever they go, they leave ruin and destruction. They don't know how to live in peace. They don't even fear God." (Romans 3:10-18) (CEV).

So then, when we see the supposed good man or woman (without a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ) doing good deeds we can conclude (because of the Word of God above) that those things are being done to make the person 'feel' good about themselves or to pacify their conscious rather than from the agape love from God (love, that is, affection or benevolence; specifically (plural) a love feast: - (feast of) charity, dear, love) that is poured into the inner man/inner woman of every sinner when we are born again, as it is also written here with these words, "By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God. Christ has also introduced us to God's undeserved kindness on which we take our stand. So we are happy, as we look forward to sharing in the glory of God. But that's not all! We gladly suffer, because we know that suffering helps us to endure. And endurance builds character, which gives us a hope that will never disappoint us. All of this happens because God has given us the Holy Spirit, who fills our hearts with His love." (Romans 5:1-5) (CEV).

Therefore, we read these next words from the writer of Hebrews who continues to expound on what it means for the child of God to enter into the rest of God here and now on the earth, "For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His." (Hebrews 4:10) (KJV). The writer of Hebrews here speaks of the present rest of the people of God who still remain on the earth, for that rest is enjoined and enjoyed by believing in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness of our sin and in so doing we cease from our own human works of righteousness and rest alone in the righteousness freely given to us by Christ Jesus our Lord, just as the Apostle Paul said with these words, "But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ and to know that I belong to Him. I could not make myself acceptable to God by obeying the Law of Moses. God accepted me simply because of my faith in Christ." (Philippians 3:7-9) (CEV). The future rest of every believer in our Lord Jesus Christ is the rest from all our spiritual warfare with the enemy, the rest from the warfare with our own flesh, that is, old nature and the toil and labor of getting out the Gospel of Grace to as many people in this world as we have been commanded to do (Matthew 28:19-20).

Here is what Albert Barnes had to say of this verse, "That is, the man who is so happy as to reach heaven, will enjoy a rest similar to what God had when He finished the work of creation. It will be: (1) A cessation from toil; and, (2) It will be a rest similar to that of God - the same kind of enjoyment, the same freedom from care, anxiety, and labor. How happy then are they who have entered into heaven! Their toils are over. Their labors are done. Never again will they know fatigue. Never more will they feel anxious care. Let us learn then: (1) Not to mourn improperly for those who have left us and gone to heaven. Happy in the rest of God, why should not we rejoice? Why wish them back again in a world of toil! (2) Let us in our toils look forward to the world of rest. Our labors will all be over. The weary man will lay down his burden; the exhausted frame will know fatigue no more. Rest is sweet at night after the toils of day; how much more sweet will it be in heaven after the toils of life! Let us. (3) Labor while it is called today. Soon we shall cease from our work. All that we have to do is to be done soon. We shall soon cease from 'our' work as God did from His. What we have to do for the salvation of children, brothers, sisters, friends, and for the world, is to be done soon. From the abodes of bliss we shall not be sent forth to speak to our kindred of the blessedness of that world, or to admonish our friends to escape from the place of despair. The pastor will not come again to warn and invite his people; the parent will not come again to tell his children of the Saviour and of heaven; the neighbor will not come to admonish his neighbor; compare Luke 16:24-29. We shall all have ceased from our work as God did from His; and never again shall we speak to a living friend to invite him to heaven."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…