In Hebrews 3, the writer asserts that those following Moses in the desert, after escaping slavery in Egypt through the Red Sea, became disobedient and faithless. Because of this rebellion, they did not enter the Promised Land with Josua.

Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.”

Hebrews 3:16-19

In Hebrews 4, the writer show that the promised rest is still available to his audience, if only they will remain faithful despite their hardships, unlike those of the Exodus who did not.

Live Your Best Tent Life

As Christians, we have also crossed the Red Sea through baptism – we have gone through the dividing water, leaving our slavery to sin behind coming out on the other side as a new creation (Romans 6:1-7)! Now we are in our desert period – no longer enslaved to sin, but struggling to live faithfully in this world until we get to be with Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5 describes this time as our tent life – living in our temporary dwelling while longing for our mansion in heaven.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

​ For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight.”

2 Corinthians 4:16 – 5:7

It is natural to long for our heavenly dwelling, but we keep from following in the Israelites unfortunate footsteps by becoming experts at dealing with “tent life.” Hebrews 5 gives us an idea of how we can do that by growth in our relationship with God.

But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

Hebrews 5:14

Over and over again, we faith challenges to God. We explore the scriptures and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we apply them to our lives – constant use. Never giving up, but faithfully addressing the next issue with our tent. This is how we keep growing and never shrink back, as Romans 5 reminds us.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Romans 5:1-5

One day, we will enter His rest, but not yet. As the evil in the world lies to us and wages war against our souls, we live our best tent life knowing Jesus gave us a deposit guaranteeing that we belong to Him – the precious Holy Spirit who lives in us, helping us travel the path of faith laid out in Romans 5.

The promise does indeed still stand. Tent life isn’t easy, but He remains with us always, until the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20).

Hear the entire message here: The Promise of Entering His Rest Still Stands – High Desert Church