Enter Into Rest
As in entering a room?
Perhaps. What does one do as they prepare to go somewhere? They get ready, they anticipate the time it will take, and they set other things aside in order to get there, be present, and be relatively uninterrupted.
“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow; and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:9-12
It is an interesting use of words, labor to enter into rest. Other versions, like the NLT, say it this way “Let us do our best to enter,” NKJ says, “Let us be diligent to enter.”
Let’s think about how God prepared Himself to enter into rest. He created, spoke tangible things into existence, set time into motion, and was pleased with all that He did.
Then He set apart the seventh day as a Holy Sabbath and rested.
It’s a beautiful picture for us to think about if we follow the example of God. Creating, communicating, doing, and validating all that we have done. Then we must carve out time to just be, restfully contemplating, setting our bodies and minds on a foundation of love. But I think that in recent times, it has become more difficult for us to rest. Sometimes we bring our worries into our Sabbath, our fears are unceasing, our phones beckon, and we continue to labor in our “own works.”
These verses seem to say that unrest has a root of unbelief. Ultimately, our daily and moment-by-moment rest comes from being known, loved, and redeemed by our precious Savior. This is good news because it means that our truest identity comes from this union with the Father, Son, and Spirit. We wear Christ as a garment of praise. We no longer have to earn His approval. We have an anchor to our souls. Our life comes forth from His delight in us. And He does delight in us.
“For we who have believed do enter that rest.” Hebrews 4:3
Yet, when we take up the burdens that only He can carry when this world demands more than we can give, and when hardships threaten our joy, then we live in fear, in our works, and the foundation we begin to stand on is unbelief. I suppose this is the part that we have to labor and be diligent. I sometimes wish I had an “off” button. Wouldn’t that be useful?
I recently started a small essential oil ritual during rest and sleep times. It has helped me enter into a restful state. I have a special Sunday nap couch, where the sun is just right. I listen to the Abide podcast. I close the door. Figuratively and physically, some doors just need to close for us to allow rest. I don’t know if Jesus had to labor to enter into rest since He was always with the Father and did the things He saw the Father doing. But perhaps his flesh needed rejuvenating prayer and contemplation and so he sought solitary places, away from his disciples, away from the crowd. We know he prayed, perhaps he cried, and maybe he even napped.
“Despite Jesus’ plea that his miracles be kept secret, the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:15-16
Often, when He returned from the lonely places, he had the plan for the day. Humanly speaking, sometimes we just try so hard to make things happen and figure out our next steps. It’s counterintuitive to stop, pray, listen, and rest. But we have been warned. It is something to be diligent about. It takes some preparation. We must say “no” to some things to enter in.
You work hard, I know you do. We do as well. Our lives are continually pouring out and are relationship-oriented. The needs of others, the preparation for events, and the time it takes to travel to different ministry sites can be tiresome. But if we don’t set ourselves aside in the Father’s presence, we can do stuff from the wrong place. At the heart of it all is a call to trust Him more. Sabbath is calling, cease from your works, and find a solitary place with the Lord of the Sabbath.
From a restful place,
