There are two ways of living: one is the way of disregarding God’s grace and truth, and the other is the way of surrendering to God’s grace and truth. Disregard for the amazing grace and wonderful truth of God in the Holy Scriptures brings disharmony, anxiety and despair. But yielding to God’s biblical guidance for our lives brings inner peace, hope, joy and rest for our souls. And we see this basic principle discussed within the Book of Hebrews…
“16 Who were they who heard and yet were rebellious? Was it not all those who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses? 17 But with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, if not to those who were disobedient? … 8 For if Joshua [Moses’ successor] had given them rest, God would not speak later about another day. 9 So then, a Sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; 10 for those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labors as God did from his. 11 Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by following their example of disobedience. 12 Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account. 14 Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 3:16-18 and 4:8-16
In chapters 3 and 4 of Hebrews, we hear that the possession of the promised land of Canaan under the leadership of Joshua was not the fulfillment of God’s promised “rest” because the Spirit of God would not have declared centuries later through King David the following declaration in Psalm 95:11, “They shall not enter my rest” (see Psalm 95:8-11 and see also Hebrews 3:7-19). So the ancient Hebrews who entered the promised land under Joshua did not enter into the promised rest, which is something greater than the promised land itself.
The Sabbath rest that “still remains” (that’s even greater than the promised land) is a three-fold reality. First, this Sabbath rest points back to God’s own rest after the initial work of establishing and shaping the Earth and the countless worlds that inhabit the immense interstellar void of the heavens all around our beautiful blue-green planet. Second, this Sabbath rest of God points ahead to the ultimate Sabbath of our heavenly destiny, the glorification and exaltation of eternal resurrection life in Christ. And third, this Sabbath rest also points presently to our literal weekly Sabbath that God instituted for our own benefit, happiness and well-being in this life.
According to the divine guidance of the Ten Commandments (not Ten Suggestions), God commands us to “Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy” (Exodus 20:8). Yes, it’s a straight-up command by Almighty God for us to observe, and it’s for a profoundly good purpose, as are all of the Ten Commandments. This commandment of the Almighty concerning Sabbath rest is for the purpose of nurturing our life-giving relationship with him, for building us up spiritually in his Word and Holy Spirit, and for renewing us in faith, hope and love.
Under the First Covenant (the Old Testament), the weekly Sabbath was the seventh day of the week according to the sequence of the “days” of creation in Genesis. However, under the Final Covenant (the New Testament), the weekly Sabbath is now the first day of the week, Sunday, the day of new creation because of the resurrection of Jesus. And this present-day “Sabbath rest” comes to us through the Word and Sacraments of Christ Jesus (our Heavenly High Priest) that we share together each week on the Lord’s Day, Sunday. Through the Word of God declared together, through prayer together, through singing spiritual songs and hymns together, through sharing in the Lord’s Supper together, and through gracious Christian fellowship together, we thereby “make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall” (Hebrews 4:11).
By the grace of God, in the midst of the struggles of our weekly life and in the midst of the unique challenges of modern-day Christian discipleship, our Sabbath rest does not depend on our own ability or power. It entirely depends on the power of Christ’s Word and Sacraments as we faithfully keep the Lord’s Day holy in community together.
Brothers and sisters, as we are coming out of this pandemic, let us recommit to frequently meeting together in person. Let’s resist turning Christianity into something to be consumed electronically. Let’s understand that discipleship and spiritual growth happen best in the crucible of in-person community, which is beautiful (and sometimes difficult) but very necessary.
For all who are able (especially if you’ve been vaccinated), the embodied in-person gathering of a congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ is not merely an option but it’s at the very top of the priority list for the Christian community. For those who are able, Christ our Lord calls us to do all that we can (“make every effort”) to gather together weekly in person on Sunday, the Holy Sabbath of God’s New Creation in Christ.
“28Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Grace & Peace! Pastor Tim