ENTER INTO REST. Hebrews 4:9-10
Christians find rest for their souls when they put saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Now, there is a Sabbath rest for the people of God that remains for us to claim. This is a rest from the work that is finished and opens the way for us to work for our Lord in the present. This is not our rest in heaven that awaits us, nor should we think of it as a state of settling back and doing nothing. Instead, it is ceasing to please God in the energy of the flesh, and letting God work in us and through us to “will and do His good pleasure.”
This means we stop trying to prove ourselves and our faith through the good works we may do, and instead enter into the blessings of our life in Christ. The Israelites finally had rest in the land of Canaan, but they became self-centered and did not enjoy the blessings God gave them. They started seeking the things that those around them possessed. They busied themselves with activities that satisfied their fleshly desires and, at the same time, gave lip service, as well as occasional public service, to God. They could have lived in happy fellowship with God, but instead, they focused on what pleased themselves.
The rest of faith means, “Not I but Christ.” Unbelievers say, “Not Christ but I.” For those who settle back and wait for Christ to come and do nothing, it is, “I and Christ.” When we start to realize why we are still here, it is “Christ and I.” When we realize we have been crucified with Christ, and are dead to our old self, it is, “Not I but Christ.” This is where we enter Sabbath rest and live our lives delighted to have the privilege to do God’s will and be used for His glory. We love the Lord Jesus Christ and His people, and our faith and love are in Him. “Christ is all in all!”
Whatever we do—whether trials, achievements, positions, or successes—the desire of believers in Christ is to be transformed to resemble our Lord as we live in this eternal Sabbath rest. He is the Vine, we are the branches, and any lasting fruitfulness resulting from our union with Him is to bring glory to the One who owns the vineyard.
God wants us to understand that we can find rest and peace now. We are given the gift of eternal life, which prepares us to enjoy the rest God provides today and will be with us forever in our eternal state. This gift of eternal life brings peace to our souls, spirits, and fellowship with God. With all of this before us, we work diligently for the Lord to accomplish the work He has entrusted to us. Our efforts are not to earn that rest but to claim everything that God's gift offers us right now.
There is joy in working for the Lord that comes with the "yoke" of Christ on us, which brings rest to restless spirits. A deep satisfaction comes from a job well done when we put our best into advancing God's kingdom. When we commit ourselves to doing His will and choose to "glorify God in our body and spirit, which are His," we experience a satisfying rest that makes living for our Lord a wonderful joy.
This state of rest is, in a sense, a preview of the eternal rest into which we have entered by faith in Christ. He has transformed us into a new creation in Him. We belong to Him and are in the place where we rejoice that all things are done according to His divine will; He is at rest, and we rest where He rests.