“This mention of a rest was not a reference to their entering into Canaan.] For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak about another day [of opportunity] after that. So, there remains a [full and complete] Sabbath rest for the people of God. (Heb. 4:9-10 AMP).
Rest is the Promised destination for God’s People. It is the product of Dominion; a state of blessed assurance of peace, calmness and tranquility; free of threat, apprehension, anxiety, strain or stress. Rest is the product of a majestic reign that quashes any insurrection or insurgency of the adversary. Rest is having Means.
When God brought Israel out of Egypt; Israel representing the People of God and Egypt the World, Rest was His Promise and their Destination. About Israel on their traverse, the Bible says, “For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the Lord your God giveth you. But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the Lord your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety…” (Deut. 12:9-10 KJV). Notice, Rest and Safety were dominant in God’s plan for His People. Rest is God’s urgent and desired destination for His People and as it turned out then, the Bible says, they (Israel) could not inherit that Rest because of unbelief (see Heb. 3:12-19 KJV). It is about this Rest that God is yet pursing and relentless until His People including you and I become established by Rest in all Life’s course.
We live in a very Restless World, there is fear, trepidation and distress in the hearts of Men. People live on the edge of distressing apprehension and uncertainty, there is stress and strain about what tomorrow holds but in the midst of all these is the City of God within which God dwells and is safe and unassailable. About this City, the Bible says, “Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.” (Psalm 46:3-5 KJV) Despite the chaos and mayhem around the World, the City of God is safe; “God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved” the Bible says. Where then is this City?
About this City and the Rest, it promised, the Bible says, “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…” Take notice that the promised Rest is not a location rather a state we get to by our belief in God. This is the crux to the Rest promised by God.
About finding this Rest, Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30 KJV)
Beloved, God’s promised land is not a location or destination we arrived at, it is a state or destination we attain by conscious reliance on God through faith in His Word; Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; …ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matt 11:29). Trust God in every circumstance and find Rest.
