The Bible contains millions of promises, however, the promise of rest is the major promise God has ever made to man.
However, according to Hebrews 4:1-7. Let us, therefore, fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, Today, after so long a time; as it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Although there is a promise, many people have failed to attain this promised rest.
Having rested in the Lord does not mean taking physical rest that involves taking a break from activity, relaxing, napping, or stopping to gather strength to continue or complete some physical undertaking.
Rather, it means to have a spiritual rest from confusion, worry, stress, useless human effort, and a break from all internal, external, mortal, and spiritual enemies.
The rest specifically the author talks about is Jesus Christ. The coming of Jesus Christ is the perfect promise that every man needs. Whoever accepts Christ, meets this promise of rest. It’s beyond the love of materialism and no means of measure can ever explain the rest found in Christ.
However, one of the factors as to why most Christians fail to enter into this wonderful rest is the character of disobedience. Although the gospel has been preached, it’s very unfortunate that most Christians are still stiff naked to obey God’s requests. We have always found it difficult for most people to misinterpret God’s promise of rest for the attainment of material things.
Nevertheless, that is not what the author in the book of Hebrews meant, but he was talking about the perfect promise which is Jesus Christ who makes us feel at peace despite the trials and difficult situations that meet us every day. The promise we talk about is that inner peace, joy and unexplained happiness that come directly from the throne of holiness through accepting Jesus Christ to be our shepherd and totally surrendering our trials to Him.
Man is an insatiable animal, however much he achieves wealth, he will still need more that is why Christ came to give us the perfect and complete rest. When we talk about resting in the lord, we simply mean God in us and totally surrendering our trials to Him. Or we mean Lord leading us as we obey Him as well.
The church is full of Christians but few of them have attained the promise of resting, why? Because most of them walk in disobedience, hate each other, etc. Which is always opposite to what God expects from them. Coming to church is not a guarantee of God’s rest but what you get from the church is what will take you into that sweet resting place and it will also transform you.
What is this Promise of REST ?
As per Jesus’s narrative in Mathew 11:28, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest? 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. Jesus notes that his promise is subjected to those willing to surrender, those feeling heavy-laden and tired.
The statement above is to only those willing and tired of that situation who are determined to totally surrender. Grace is sufficient today for you to change and be determined to surrender that sin which is repetitive in your life to attain God’s rest. There is no resting in living a sinful life, we can only achieve rest in Jesus.
Allowing Christ to be your shepherd mandates Him to restore your soul from the troubles of this world to His resting place. Psalms 23. Whatever challenges you are facing, be still and hand them over to Jesus who is your shepherd, God desires us to rest in Him so that he can deliver His master plan of our future.
Care not about the situations you are going through, as long as you allow God to be your resting place, one day God will show you His hand of deliverance.
All the material things we yearn for, are nothing but we must strive and yearn to have rest in God because His resting place is the most suitable and pleasing moment every Christian needs to overcome Satan’s intimidation.
Resting in God simply means making God the first priority, therefore as you pray, first surrender to the Lord everything and let Him be your resting place. Our rest lies in looking to the Lord, not to ourselves because as long as our expectation is from other things, nothing but disappointment awaits us.
No soul can be really at rest until it has given up all dependence on everything else and has been forced to depend on the Lord alone.
