Rest in Peace

He is our Sabbath Rest

Yesterday I wrote that the Sabbath is a state of rest, but there's more to it.  Specifically, the Jewish Sabbath looked toward a time of final rest.  Thus the writer of Hebrews explains by combining the words “sabbath” and “rest.” There remains a Sabbath Rest for the people of God, and a promise of entering His rest; therefore, let us be careful we don't fall short of it, by not making every effort to enter it (Heb. 4:1, 9,11 ed). In my experience, I've found that many people don't understand "Sabbath Rest," and are therefore unable to enter it!

The reason God rested is that His work was finished. The reason we are able to rest is that our ‘work’ to save ourselves is finished. Jesus finished it for us! We are free from self-effort. Quite simply, the Sabbath Rest means we are “dead to sin and alive to God” (Rom. 6:11). John says, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on, so that they may rest from their labors” (Rev. 14:13).

Think of this. Under the Old Covenant, the "day of rest" was on the last day of the week. Under the New Covenant, the first day of the week became the "day of rest,” illustrating a principle: you must enter His rest before you begin to do His work; and you must enter His rest in order to do His work!  But in all truth, every day lived  in the power of Jesus' life is a day of rest!  May you "Rest in Peace."