Hebrews 3:7-19
Tuesday, 11 July 2023
‘Exasperated, I vowed, "They'll never get where they're going, never be able to sit down and rest."’ -Hebrews 3:11 [MSG]
God completed His creation on the sixth day and He entered into His rest on the seventh day. It was God's divine plan to bring humanity into that rest by and through an eternal covenant relationship, which will ultimately unite us with the Eternal God.
Adam and Eve lost this golden opportunity in the Garden of Eden by believing the serpent. Sin brought in curse and darkness over every soul which was cut off from the real life and light, which is God Himself. In this spiritual darkness combined with curse, humanity has lost its way to eternal rest. They toiled hard to find the way to that rest, which became a distant dream in a world devoid of God who alone can give us rest. Even though man lost his spiritual connectivity with the life-giving God, God had set out in His own way to bring us back to that eternal rest. He devised the way even before all this fall happened.
To bring His eternal salvation plan to fruitfulness, God called out Abraham and his descendants and gave them the first covenant which was a foreshadow of all that is real.
Israel became the first nation God called out and set them on an epic journey through the wilderness. Every step of their journey depicted how God was planning the reality through Christ in the future. He promised them Canaan as their possession. It was first given as a covenant promise and for possessing this promise they were led out by God under the leadership of Moses from Egypt. They crossed the Red Sea and God covered them under His wings and led them through the wilderness. All through this journey God tried to prepare them for the eternal rest which comes through Jesus Christ their Redeemer. Canaan was a type of Christ-fruitfulness and rest.
But all through these experiences, Israelites rebelled against God and godly leadership. They chose their own way to attain the promised Canaan. Finally God himself had to leave them in their own way and they perished in the wilderness journey. Only Joshua and Caleb from the old generation along with the children born in the wilderness could finally enter and possess the land. They stayed with God in faith.
Similarly, if we abide with Christ, He will take us to the eternal home of rest and peace. Jesus said:"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (Matt. 11:28-30 MSG)
Only Jesus can take us to that rest for our souls. In order to reach there, we need to keep company with Jesus. He knows the way! Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me.” (John 14:6 MSG)
Lets learn to walk with Him. He will give us the rest, here and in eternity. Rest in His saving grace!
Prayer: Dear God, I humbly come to You! Please lead me to enter into that rest for my soul. Amen
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