Real Rest
“Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord.”
Exodus 16:23.
In 24 hours the average adult accomplishes much:
– his heart beats 103,689 times,
– his blood travels 168 million miles,
– he breathes 23,040 times,
– he inhales 438 cubic feet of air,
– he eats 3 1/2 pounds of food,
– he drinks 2.9 quarts of liquid,
– he speaks 4,800 words,
– he moves 750 muscles,
– his nails grow .000046 inch,
– and he exercises 7 million brain cells.
It’s no wonder we need rest!
When God established the laws governing the lives of the Israelite people- He built into their schedule a time for rest.
Physically it enabled their bodies to recuperate.
Spiritually it reminded them that their salvation was not complete.
They needed a spiritual “rest”-
– that would come only when the Messiah would take away their sins.
The writer of Hebrews makes it clear that even though the Jewish people practiced Sabbath-keeping, the real “rest” was a future event.
He declared, “For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.” Heb. 4:8-9.
In the New Testament the command to “remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy” is the only one of the Ten Commandments not repeated, and for a good reason.
The spiritual rest that the Old Testament saints looked forward to and which the Sabbath represented is now a reality.
Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28.
Taking a day to rest is still an important part of maintaining a healthy body.
But it’s a physical necessity, not a spiritual law.
Now we can rejoice in the true rest that comes in Christ.
Real rest is-
– in the Lord,
– not in the law.
(PR)