Peter Howard
Hebrews (part 4): The Glorious Rest
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb 4:16)
Life is hard work. We all long for rest. We count down the days to the weekend. We anxiously await holidays and the welcome break from the mundane routines of life. But none of these things are able to give us true rest. God has something much better planned for us. Something better than anything this world has to offer.
God gave us the Sabbath, one day a week to stop and worship and dwell in His presence. But the rest God wants to give us is more than just one day. He wants to give us the rest of His grace and mercy. Because of sin we struggle to gain these blessings that God so wants to give us. We have to not harden out hearts. We have to trust in Jesus and lean on the strength of His arms. “Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” (Mt 11:28)
The Hebrews were on the brink of the destruction of Jerusalem. We are on the brink of the end of the world. Today is the day that God is asking us to choose between the entertainments and the consequences of labouring for ourselves in the world, or through faith trusting Him and inheriting those things that “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Cor 2:9). In God’s rest we will be free from sin and all it’s consequences. True freedom, true rest.