Unbelief leads to unrest . . .

The New Testament is filled with assurance that those who believe in Jesus Christ are under the keeping power of God. That is, Christians are saved by grace through faith, not by what we do. This means we cannot do anything to become ‘unsaved’ either. Theologians call this ‘eternal security’ and the Holy Spirit assures believers that it is true.

However, there are a few passages of warning. The book of Hebrews was written to those experiencing great trials because of their faith and assures readers of their great salvation and the superiority of believing in Jesus. Some of them were considering going back to their pre-salvation religious beliefs. When they thought they could earn salvation by keeping the law, no one persecuted them making that system seem attractive in their suffering. However, the writer of Hebrews warned them:

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. (Hebrews 3:12–19)

This reminder of the failure of their nation’s past efforts was a good one. Back then, those who heard the promise of God through Moses that they would be delivered from bondage in Egypt also needed to stick to it. Instead, some disobeyed in unbelief and died before reaching the freedom of the promised land. Just as these historical people of God sinned in unbelief, the writer of Hebrews warns his contemporaries not to make the same mistake.

Essentially, his warning is, “If you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” That little word ‘if’ is key here. If they did not hear His voice, they had no hope. The Holy Spirit speaks to convict people of sin. If those who hear this message do not listen, they remain lost in their sin, not knowing God’s rest that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit always speaks to the children of God with guidance, assurance, direction, reminders, and so on. If those who hear His voice in these ways and do not listen, they remain struggling with sin instead of being set free to find the rest and assurance that is theirs because of their faith. Many Christians will attest to the reality of ‘no rest’ perhaps not realizing the problem — their faith is weak.

Tozer suggests that without the presence of the Holy Spirit speaking through our conscience as believers, no other voice would have any significance. That is the reason for ‘lack of rest’ in Christ. The Holy Spirit came as the divine Comforter who confirms Christ’s words and Christ’s work and Christ’s person. Unless I listen, I miss out on that assurance and understanding. I will also fail to have a deep awareness of Christ who lives in me. I may trust Him for forgiveness and my eternal salvation, but cannot be at rest, even as a believer, if my heart is filled with unbelief concerning everything else.

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Jesus, forgive me for all the stuff that I’ve worried about and not trusted You with, things like my health, the salvation of those I love, and a host of other ‘in this life’ matters. If You can deliver me from the bondage of sin, then You can deliver me from the bondage of unrest, and of agitation when life does not go my way, and of worry about all sorts of things that I cannot control anyway. You say that those who are not at rest have a problem with a hard heart and unbelief. Forgive that in me whenever it threatens and no matter what causes it. I should never think that You are not sufficient for every problem and trial. Bless me with deeper and more comprehensive faith!