Within three verses the author of Hebrews repeats the same message three times: ⁵… but in this other text he says, “They’ll never be able to sit down and rest.” So this promise has not yet been fulfilled. ⁶Those earlier ones never did get to the place of rest because they were disobedient.

He is very serious about this and he will keep repeating it until people understand the simple message. It contains a huge message: If you believe in God and live like a child of God, you will be with God for eternity.

Unfortunately, the opposite is also true: You face a terrible time if you don’t believe in God. You will live for eternity in a Godforsaken place. In that place where God is not, evil reigns and there is no mercy. There is no justice. There is no righteousness. There is no joy, only pain and hurt and suffering.

If you are reading this, I assume that you believe in God and form part of the group that will live with God for eternity. I look forward to sitting at God’s table for eternity, at rest and at peace.

The problem is that the people who are part of the second group and who are on their way to eternal hell, are not going to read this. They see no sense in learning about God and his world.

It’s bad to think that they are totally going the wrong way. It’s bad to know that people very close to us are going that way and will not enjoy the wonderful eternal life with us one day.

Years ago, I saw the heart-breaking movie, Auschwitz. I can still remember how I felt afterwards. Sick. Thousands of people loaded on trains like animals and burnt in ovens or gassed in gas chambers. 1,1 million people.

As I was watching the movie, I wondered if there wouldn’t be just one person who would jump in front of the train to stop it? Wasn’t there even one man or woman who could do something to prevent these people from being taken to their deaths? I wonder what I would have done? Would I have looked away too?

That train is still running today. People decide to get on the train to eternal death themselves. People aren’t worried about eternal rest, eternal peace or eternal joy with God.

They deliberately decide against it. I wonder why? Why would you choose eternal hell? I suspect it’s because they don’t really know what they are choosing and where they are going. They think life is only about the now. They don’t know about life hereafter.

I strongly suspect it is your and my calling to tell them about this. It is my and your job to jump in front of the train …

Scripture
Hebrews 4:1-6

Reflection
Do you know what is your calling?
Who do you know that are on the wrong train?
What are you doing about it?

Prayer
Father, my heart bleeds. There are so many people on the train to eternal damnation. Even people close to me aren’t making it. Please help me live in a way that will persuade them to get off. In Jesus’ Name, amen.