Sabbath Rest
The Gospel is rife with the promise of rest. The first example we find in Scripture is in the first verses of Genesis chapter 2 where we are told that on the seventh day God rested from all His work. He then sanctified, or set apart, that day.
This gives us insight into the importance of rest, but we often assume that what we are to learn from this is not to do any work on the seventh day. It is one of the ten commandments, after all.
It is important to remember what covenant currently governs our relationship with God. Here are three important passages that deal with the topic of rest.
Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Colossians 2:16-17 (KJV)
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Hebrews 4:9-11 (KJV)
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
The context around this passage in Hebrews makes it clear that entering the Kingdom of God is what is being referred to when rest is discussed. We are told we should work at (diligently strive for) entering that rest—entering the Kingdom; accepting God’s gift of salvation; placing our trust only in Jesus for our reconciliation to God.
The passage also talks about disobedience. We disobey when we refuse to change our minds about God and about our own ability to make ourselves righteous; when we refuse to accept His grace as our only hope of life.
In the Matthew passage, Jesus promised rest for our souls, our psuche, or psyche, our mind, will, and emotions. As believers, we have entered that rest. This is exactly what we received when we were reborn and given eternal life. We no longer need to worry about our relationship with God. We no longer need to worry about our eternal future.
The good news is that Jesus has given us rest.
