Funny how children do not need to be reminded to rest!
“If we believe, though, we’ll enter that state of resting. But not if we don’t have faith.” Hebrews 4:1-11
Hebrews calls us to come to Jesus, our only Lord and Savior. It reminds us of what happened to the people who didn’t “believe,” who were disobedient and went their own way, despite the goodness of God’s promise (see Psalm 78 for a great summary of their rebellion in the face of his provision.)
In Hebrews 4, the author beckons us to rest, urges us not to refuse it. It’s easy for me to read the passage and say, “I wouldn’t be like those moronic Israelites!” Indeed. And yet…I need to examine my life of rest. It is true, the day of eternal rest awaits. For now, the challenges of a fallen world will interfere with rest. Even so, God invites us to enter His rest now as we anticipate the promise of new heavens new earth rest.
Eugene Peterson writes this about rest…
“The concept of rest is central to living the Christian life. Two things happen when we rest. First, we understand where we’ve come from. And second, we understand where we’re going. When we rest, we look back and see how God has providentially led us along the way, how he has protected and provided for us.
If, however, we’re immersed in the present, preoccupied with the pressing issues of everyday life, we’ll never see his providential care for us. If we don’t enter the rest that’s both symbolized and experienced in our Sunday worship, our lives will become cluttered, and that will keep us confused.
We often labor under the illusion that everything depends on us or on those around us. But it doesn’t. Everything depends on God. And this is the great lesson that rest has to teach us.” Eugene Peterson, Conversations.
Father, forgive my wandering, worrying heart. Forgive me for my faith in self-sufficiency that causes me to forget YOUR efficiency. Cause me to rest, Lord, force me to surrender my heart to you again, that I may fully enter your rest, not just in eternity, but even today. In the name of the one who bought this rest for us, our Lord Jesus Christ, I humbly and hopefully ask this blessing.
