Rest and Abiding

During a drive running errands I saw a makeshift memorial by the side of the road with the familiar acronym:  "RIP" or "Rest in Peace."  After a person dies, their body is laid to rest because their lives on earth are over.  The body ceases to function and there remains no more work for them to accomplish.  My mind went to the rest Jesus promised to all who are weary and heavy laden, that He would give rest for our souls.  This is a different kind of rest because it goes beyond the physical realm we can see and we can spiritually experience it before our life on earth is over.

Hebrews 4:8-11 reads, "There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. ¹⁰ For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. ¹¹ Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience."  The writer of Hebrews makes it clear there was a rest for the children of Israel many fell short of entering when their carcasses fell in the wilderness, and though people eventually took possession of the land there was still a rest for them.  The fact Jesus invites people to find rest for their souls by faith in Him proves there remains a rest for God's people that extends beyond acquiring land, houses and rest from war.  The word "rest" defined in the Greek gives us a better understanding of a word which is broadly used, most often to denote a break due to fatigue.

"Rest" is defined in the Strong's Concordance as, "reposing down, i.e. (by Hebrew) abode."  It suggests an inner calm free from the turbulence of worry, fear and cares of this life.  It is pictured in the sheep that lays down in a green pasture because the presence of the shepherd brings a sense of protection and security.  Jesus alluded to this abiding rest in John 15:4-5:  "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. ⁵ I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."  This abiding, this rest is a contentment realised only by faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to Him.  Many people labour to be accepted of God and perhaps place great emphasis on feelings of affirmation and positive emotions.  The rest God provides transcends our thoughts and feelings because it is spiritually obtained by faith in Christ alone.  Our feelings are better at conveying when we are not at rest than when we are.

A follower of Jesus Christ must be diligent to enter the rest God has promised because our abiding does not work like justification.  Our abiding in Christ is a conscious act of the will to humble ourselves and trust Jesus in our current situation, and there are many inferior substitutes to the rest God gives.  The world offers pleasures, properties, the cliche "wine, women and song," early retirement, money, power, fame, travel, holidays and luxury.  All these are full of labour and provide no rest for our souls.  Knowing who Jesus is, how He loves us, believing and receiving from Jesus by faith when we feel weary enables us to enter into the rest God provides.  The Bible exposes our thoughts, motives and reveals how far we are from experiencing the LORD's rest.  Hebrews 4:16 concludes, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

This world is full of labour and will one day pass away.  We are born into this flurry of activity which resembles a proving ground to see if we will rely upon Jesus the Son of God, upon ourselves or pursue fleeting feelings which pass for "rest" in this world.  Every day we have countless opportunities to be diligent to enter the rest of God by faith marked by obedience, and not one of us need fall short.  The branch does not choose to be connected to the vine, but we have a choice if we will abide in Christ:  that because the Good Shepherd is near we will lay down in peace and security though we hear the howling of wolves and the roaring of lions.  What can separate us from resting in Jesus and His love apart from our unbelief?

God Speaks to Us

Once a friend of mine showed me a leather strap that was used for corporal discipline in his home.  I couldn't read the writing inscribed in Afrikaans upon it, but he translated it for me:  "I'm done talking."  The idea conveyed to me was the strap was the last resort after clear communication and warnings were given.  The Bible says parents who love their children will discipline them, and the LORD also corrects His children.  I am grateful for the word of God and the Holy Spirit who communicates God's loving and redemptive purposes even when correction is needed in our lives.

This morning I read of Eli's interaction with his sons who were infamous for their wicked conduct that unbecoming of a child of Israel, much less a priest.  Eli verbally rebuked his adult sons for their sinful behaviour which led God's people to trespass, but it did not go beyond speaking.  Eli did not take any action of removing them from their posts or excommunicating them until they repented and reformed their ways.  It seems the concerned words of Eli had no impact upon them, for Hophni and Phinehas continued in their wickedness until their deaths on the same day.

Eli was provoked to action because of their sins which were widely known to question them, but God did more than speak:  God sent a prophet to tell Eli of the coming consequences for honouring themselves more than Him.  Eli and his sons abused their privileged position and were unfit to continue in their roles.  God would "cut off the arm" of Eli's father's house, and it would be confirmed with a sign as it is written in 1 Samuel 2:34-35:  "Now this shall be a sign to you that will come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die, both of them. ³⁵ Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever."  God did more than than merely speak, and would take decisive action to purge His people of leaders who lightly esteemed Him.

What I love about this sobering example is the death of Hophni and Phinehas was a sign God would cut off Eli's house from the priesthood for their sin, but also a promise God would raise up for Himself a faithful priest who would do according to God's heart and mind.  This was fulfilled in 1 Kings 2 when Zadok was made priest, and ultimately will be fulfilled by Jesus Christ who is both KING OF KINGS and great High Priest.  This is explained in Hebrews 5 in greater detail, that Jesus is high priest of the order of Melchizedec.  God disciplines us not because He is done talking but because He wants us to hear and obey what He has said and has yet to say.

Praise God who created all things speaks to us as it says in Hebrews 1:1-4:  "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, ² has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; ³ who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴ having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they."  No matter how old we grow to be, God will continue to speak and take action to uphold His glorious will.  How blessed we are to hear the voice of our King and High Priest Jesus Christ the Son of God!

Rights and Authority

Long before I arrived on this planet and to this day people hold their "rights" dear.  Most people want to have a high degree of autonomy over their lives and the freedom to exercise their right of choice in all areas of life.  What is intriguing about the concept of having rights is there must be governance at some level to authorise and uphold them.  A child has the right to stay up late to watch a movie because permission is granted by mum and dad; an employee has the right for compensation for injury because the government has provided it.  Governments have the right of rule because there is a God who has ordained them to do so, and before Him all men will give an account of the exercise of their rights because He is Creator and supreme.  Without the existence of God who created the universe which remains under His authority, the concept of having "rights" is foreign.

There is a right given by God that is greater than the freedom of speech, to assemble or to bear arms:  we are given the right to become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ.  John 1:11-14 says, "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. ¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:¹³ who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."  There have been times in history when rights have been voluntarily relinquished or forcefully removed, yet this right God gives is available to all regardless of regime.  A government may forbid a person to mention the name of Jesus Christ, but no one can stop a person from being born again as a child of God.  Our God-given right to know and trust God has not been rescinded, nor will ever be for those who hope in Him.

It was not long ago a dual citizen of Australia had his Australian citizen revoked because of terrorist offences and was sent back to his nation of origin.  As a dual citizen myself it gave me pause to consider that my citizenship in Australia is permanent but not forever.  Australia can welcome me as a citizen who by choice makes an pledge of loyalty to Australia and its people under God, and also can someday revoke it without my permission.  For those who are born again children of God our citizenship in heaven will never be revoked.  There is no sin too great to be accepted by the Father because the justice of God has been satisfied by the atoning work of Jesus Christ on Calvary.  All our sins have been washed away and the righteousness of God imputed to us by grace through faith.  Isn't this wonderful news?  Isn't it great to know God has given us the right to become His children, and He will not rescind this right for all eternity?  We have on good authority our eternal security and acceptance as one of God's own.  Bless the LORD!

Be In Rest

One little word can make a big difference.  I love when I am reading the Bible and I find an unexpected word that makes me consider the implications of it.  A new twist of an old truth can be most invigorating to sedentary faith and provokes us to self examination.

I have been reading through the book of Ruth this week and it is a powerful and moving message of devotion, action and faith.  A foreign widow from Moab went to Bethlehem with her bereaved mother-in-law Naomi who was embittered due to personal loss and grief.  She returned from Moab feeling empty when she had a loyal daughter-in-law Ruth who was a hard worker and caring provider.  Ruth "happened" to glean in a field belonging to Boaz who was a near relative.  Over the course of the harvest Naomi directed Ruth to approach Boaz with the request for him to fulfill the duty of a kinsman redeemer, to take her as wife to raise up seed for the dead.

After Ruth communicated her desire in a lawful, honourable way, Boaz stated his clear intent and desire to take her as wife because she was a virtuous woman.  Having explored the matter himself Boaz told Ruth there was a kinsman who was nearer to them who had the right of redemption.  He assured Ruth he would handle the matter and she reported the happy news to Naomi.  Ruth 3:18 reveals the response of Namoi:  "Then she said, "Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day."  Ruth had done what was required on her part to set the process in motion, and there was nothing for her to do but wait and see how everything worked out.  Her faith was to remain in God and without care and worry could sit still knowing Boaz would not rest until the job was done.

This verse is rendered in the KJV a little differently:  Ruth 3:18:  "Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day." (bold emphasis mine)  Naomi assured Ruth Boaz would not rest or "be in rest" until he had concluded the matter.  True to her prediction, Boaz busied himself to assemble 10 men at the gate to legally conduct the business of redeeming the property of Elimelech and Ruth as his wife.  The only way he would enter into rest was to have the job satisfactorily completed.  This is the rest available to Christians to enter into by the work Jesus Christ did on Calvary in demonstrating His love for us.  Life is full of labour, yet there is rest for us today through Christ's finished work.  He has entered into rest and ascended to heaven, and we ought not to fall short of the rest found in Him.

When Naomi's words are rendered "the man will not rest" it focuses on the action he will take; her statement rendered as "the man will not be in rest" speaks of an inner condition, a state of rest in mind and soul.  This is the rest God has for us as we labour to do the work He has called us to do.  No longer is our labour to try to earn favour or blessing from God because He has already accepted us by grace through faith.  Having received the fulness of God we are thus empowered to labour with our hands what is good as we do our part, and take time to sit still and know He is God and has all things in hand.  Let us be those who are in rest because of faith in our glorious Saviour who delights to love us.