A Sabbath Rest for the People of God
Hebrews 4:1-10
There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. [Hebrews 4:10]
There is a wonderful rest for the child of God. Have you ever come home from a hard day of work; perhaps you worked a 12 hour day and are just physically and emotionally drained. Maybe you take a hot shower to unwind and then you crawl into bed and sleep for a solid 8 hours. It’s a deep sleep where the rest is to the bone. That’s the kind of spiritual rest that is promised to the child of God.
“Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.” [Heb 4:1]
You see, the real fear is coming short of His rest. This is what happened to the Israelites wondering the wilderness. When we don’t have rest we become tired, panicked, and fearful. Sound familiar? “Worry” is the overarching disease. But what did Jesus say?
“I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? …Who of you by worrying can add a sing hour to his life? …So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” [ref. Matt 6:25-34]
These are the red-letter words of Jesus. Do you believe them?
You see, this is the fundamental point of the Hebrews 4. Rest, true rest, that deep down Sabbath rest that goes to the bone, comes by believing God’s word and God’s promises.
The pagan world would have you not believe, which is a sure recipe for unrest, fear, anxiety, and panic. Remember, promises are words that have yet to be fulfilled. That’s why they are promises. God’s promises must be believed by faith and then rest will come. That is why the just [God’s children] shall live by faith: A good word for us to ponder this day.
