Focus: Hebrews 4:9, 11 - KJV
9. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 11. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Hebrews 3:1-12
Our God worked for six days and on the seventh, He entered into His rest from all the work He had done. In His manner, He has created a rest for everyone that is His. For instance, when He gave His commandments to Moses for His people, He was specific to decree a rest on the seventh day. Moses took it a step further by directing that even the land and everything that pertained to the people deserved to rest on the seventh day, month year or decade. It is the law of the sabbath. But beyond that law, everyone called by the name of the Lord is seen as a sojourner upon the earth, who has spent “six” days laboring and sweating things out so as to remain faithful to their God. Hence, after the sixth day, they are drawn to their rest. Those who do not serve the Lord are like the Israelites that perished in the wilderness. They had squandered their time on earth and deserve no rest.
Stephen was a deacon serving the table under the supervision of the apostles. He had labored so well and was even available to do the work of the evangelist when the occasion required. Though he was a young lad, he had completed his sixth day and was ready to enter into the Lord’s rest. Hence, the one to whom he belongs rose to beckon him to come home to rest. It was not so much about how long his sojourn was but how well. Yet, when the rich man died, in the story of the rich man and Lazarus, it is recorded that the rich man died and was buried while Lazarus was taken to the bosom of Abraham by angels. The difference is that the one carried by the angels was carried into his rest while the other who was buried was left to experience scorching and hellish condition which is in no way restful. It did not matter how long they both lived but rest separated them afterwards.
God is faithful to give deserved rest to His people. No wonder Christ said He was going to prepare a place for them so that where He is they may be there also. The Lord is cautioning us to remain His people so that in the end we may rightfully enter into His rest. Everyone that fails to comply with His ways on earth will forfeit the rest. The promised land was the place He reserved for Israel to rest. A chunk however did not make it there and therefore forfeited the rest. In the same manner, all those who decide to prefer the slavery of the world as against the beauty of the promised heaven will not enter into the rest prepared by God for His people. To be part of it, we need now to start working out our salvation with fear and trembling. If we had spent time in wrong works and vane things of this life, then we need to start redeeming the time for the days are evil.
SOLUTION: Let us be intentional about getting the deserved rest that God has for His people by being truly of God in all that we do. Anything short of that will not open the rest unto such in the end.
Please pray:
· Give thanks to God for reserving for you a place in His many mansions where you might rest in the end
· Ask God to give you the strength and ability to do His will alone in all that pertains to you
· Pray God to give you deserved rest on earth like He gave Israel in the promised land; and not let you forfeit the eternal rest when the time is up
· Pray for all members of your family and friends that none would miss the deserved rest, ever
· Ask for your daily bread today
If you are blessed by this post, kindly share with your contacts, as well as others, that they may be blessed also. Thank you and may God bless you abundantly as you do so, in Jesus’ name
Comments