Resting - reconciliation

 

We talked about how God rested to set an example for us - He rested after the work of creation. Jesus rested in the boat before His disciples awakened Him, in fear of the storm. Jesus also rested after completing the work of the cross . . . Remember His words?

And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I ENTRUST MY SPIRIT.” And having said this, He died. (Luke 23:46)

Through our Savior's death, the work of salvation was finished - Jesus could enter the fullness of rest.

Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it. For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it. ......There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:1-2,9-11)

What is the rest that the writer of Hebrews is mentioning? He began his discussion of the rest in chapter 3, and referenced the Israelites wandering in the desert. God promised them the land of Canaan; He promised that He would go before them and defeat their enemies. He would make it possible for them to live in peace and security. 

What did they have to do? What was required of them? Simply to trust in God and His promises. 

But they refused to obey God, even murmured against Him and yearned to go back to Egypt! Because of their rebellion, it would be the next generation who placed their faith in God and entered the rest God had promised, in the Promised Land.

In chapter four of Hebrews, there's a more personal application of resting in God's promises. It's for us. Well, both to Hebrew and Gentile Christians! 

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. (Hebrews 4:1, NIV)

The promise for us, the believers of today, is not that of entering the Promised Land, but of salvation through Jesus Christ. It is He Who can provide the eternal rest of salvation for our sins. God's rest is in the spiritual realm and faith is the key to entering it. The writer notes that the Hebrews had the gospel preached to them, but they did not combine hearing the message with the faith necessary to receive it...many of those who heard the good news rejected it for lack of faith.

Yes, resting in God is anchored in our salvation, through Jesus. Just as God rested from the completed work of creation, we can rest in the finished work of Jesus . . . what does this mean? Well, it means that we can rest from our empty efforts to earn our salvation. Our redemption does not come through OUR work, but from Jesus' work! And His salvation work is done!

True Sabbath rest is when we enter eternal life in the presence of God -- and since we have His presence beginning with our acceptance of His salvation, eternal life is now; it's already started! Look at these verses:

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3)

 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. (John 6:40)

The passage in Hebrews makes it pretty clear that the Israelites didn't enter rest because they failed to believe. The book of Hebrews talks a lot about hardness of heart, and failure to believe. It's a call to everyone to believe in Jesus and be reconciled to God. This helps us to more fully understand Jesus' words:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

And we have many verses and passages that assure us of our eternal rest. We are called to patient endurance, cheerful obedience, and determined faithfulness to our Savior.

Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” (Revelation 14:13)

What does "rest from their labor" look like? We have a description:

Therefore,

“they are before the throne of God
    and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
    will shelter them with his presence.
16 ‘Never again will they hunger;
    never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’
    nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne
    will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” Revelation 7:15-17)

"Face to face with Christ my Savior, ......"

"I can only imagine....."

Old hymns or new songs, we believers long for the day when we enter the rest of our Savior. If we desire for our time on earth to be more restful, let's be faithful about making the seventh day a Sabbath day of rest. Let's listen to Jesus' offer, and go to Him and accept His gift of rest.