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The Promise of Rest

¹ Now listen, we've still got that promise from God. We can still have the rest he promised us, but you've got to be careful you ain't left in the dust. ² We've got the same good news as they had, but they didn't listen. Be sure you do. You do that by having faith in what you hear and then doing it. ³ Those who believe get the rest that was promised, just like God said, "I made them a promise when they made me mad, 'They won't ever get any rest.'"

God's work is done. It has been since the seventh day after he'd made it all. ⁴ He already told us this when the Good Book said, "On the seventh day, God sat down and rested because he was done." ⁵ But remember he warned, "Those who don't believe won't get any of my rest."

⁶ This all means some will still get the rest they're looking for, and others who've heard the good news and didn't trust in it, did not and will not. It ain't because God don't love them. It's because they don't love God. ⁷ He told us what day the rest was available. The day he named was "today." This happened when he talked to us through David and said, "Today, if you hear his word, don't turn a deaf ear."

⁸ The rest didn't happen when Joshua led them into the promised land. The rest is still promised to us today. ⁹ There's another rest coming. A much better one for those who ride for God! ¹⁰ All those cowboys who have finished the drive have been able to experience this rest, just like God did after creating the world. ¹¹ Set your eyes and hearts on this, cowboys. But you won't get there riding for yourself. If you do, you'll be left in the desert just like they were to rot.

¹² God's word is real. He means what he says. It is sharper than a straight edge razor. His word cuts right in between the soul and the spirit, through doubts and desires. His word lays bare who we really are. ¹³ Nothing can hide from God. Everything is naked and exposed. We will all answer to him one day and give account of the ride we made.

Jesus Is Our Trail Guide

¹⁴ Look at is this way, since our trail guide has found his way to heaven, let us follow him there through our faith. Tie hard and fast to it and don't let go or look away. ¹⁵ We ain't got a trail guide who merely met us at the end. He rode every mile just like he asks us to. He knows how hard it is and the trials and trails we will have to take. He took 'em too. But remember, he never made a wrong turn. ¹⁶ Because of this, we know that our wrong turns won't be held against us in front of God. We can go right up to him and know he sees his son's ride and not our own. This gives us the confidence we need to finish it out when the trail turns rank.