God is Inviting You To Rest

Introduction

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 5003 Jesus’ Example of Rest

Edwin R. Roberts of Princeton Seminary once sat under a pastor who concluded his announcements, “I am not going to take a vacation this summer; the devil never does!”

Roberts went home and re-read the Gospels to see what Jesus’ attitude is. He found that of His three years’ active ministry, there were mentioned 10 periods of retirement! This was in addition to the nightly rest and the sabbath rest.

Whose example are we following? the Devil’s?

Life is hard. It is filled with all sorts of responsibilities and very few opportunities by which one can maximize upon to fulfill those responsibilities. How do we make sense of a world that is so filled with chaos, confusion, hard times, and opposition? The answer is: We hope in the fact there is a God who created this entire universe and has prepared for us some solution that will prove life on this earth, in submission to the divine Creator’s will, was ultimately worth it. In other words, as Dr. Tony Evans said, “We have hope. For, what else do we have?”

Today, we will discover the biblical concept of rest and how we might access this state of rest that God has promised. We will discover how we might retire from this constant state of toil which covers our lives.

Rest: depose (overthrow or remove from office), abode; cease from activity or work.

Exposition of Scripture: Hebrews 1-4

Our text, Hebrews 4:14-15 is a part web of Scriptures. Too often, it has been used as one isolated passage to describe a single (or several) phenomena (s). However, there is a point to this passage that is intricately connected to the previous chapters. And in this way, it makes most sense when considered in lieu of the things written before.

Moses was God’s servant ; Jesus is God’s Son (Hebrews 1:1-4)

Hebrews 1:1-4 demonstrates a phenomenal point. God spoke through the prophets in previous times. However, He is now speaking through His Son, Jesus Christ. This is relevant to Hebrews 3-4, because it demonstrates the intention of God and to speak through Moses to Israel, who failed to hear that voice.

The writer is seemingly arguing that God has always spoken, but no one listened. Now, God has ultimately sent His Son and in Hebrews 3, he cautions us not to avoid or ignore “the voice.” There’s a direct line being drawn from Hebrews 1:1-4 to Hebrews 3.

The voice of God speaks and invites us to rest (Hebrews 3).

When God called Israel out of Egypt, He did so by His voice. Israel never believed this voice, and died in the wilderness because of it (Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 95:7-11). Now, the Promised Land is symbol of the rest that foreshadows the eternal rest we receive through Christ. It is a place of providence and safety; it is home.

The reference to “His voice” is a reference to the prophet Moses in particular, and the prophets as a whole in general, who spoke in the Old Testament. However, God is now speaking through His Son, who is giving the same sort of invitation that Moses gave to Israel.

Rest (Hebrews 4)

The writer makes a very interesting and profound acknowledgment. He claims that the rest of which He speaks of has been prepared for those who believe since the beginning of the world (Hebrews 4:3-4). In fact, He argues that God has already entered the rest since the day of creation. However, no one has entered this race, because they have not obeyed the voice.

Now, it is important to understand that rest is the ability to depose in order to abide. What is the principle and application of these things?

“You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you.” -St Augustine of Hippo

“No soul can have rest until it finds created things are empty. When the soul gives up all for love, so that it can have Him that is all, then it finds true rest.”-Julian of Norwich

God has delivered us from the law and its requirements—creating a spiritual rest.

God invites us to be delivered from the toil and trials of this life—creating a natural rest.

Application/ Conclusion

How do we get to this wholistic state of rest? Two things: We hear the voice and we believe the voice (Hebrews 4:9-13). Now, if we think that following Christ and living in belief is too difficult of a task, the writer comforts us in Hebrews 4:14-16). He demonstrates that our High Priest endured the same trials we faced and He did not sin. He invites us to come to Him and receive grace.