Missing the

Missing the "Rest"

It is simply a historical fact that Joshua (called Jesus in Hebrews 4:8) led Israel into the rest promised them in the land of Canaan. It is also a historical fact that many missed that rest because of unbelief. They started out like others but they disobeyed God and died in the wilderness. Because of this God said, "So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest" (Hebrews 3:11).

This tragedy is used as a warning to Christians lest they also fall away and miss the eternal rest that God has prepared for the faithful in heaven. "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God" (Hebrews 4:9). The example of the unbelief that overtook some of Israel can also be the case with Christians (Hebrews 4:11).

In the light of such strong evidence, how can anyone claim to be honest with the Scriptures and deny the possibility of apostasy? The whole book of Hebrews combats falling away. We can miss the promised rest.