Living at Rest

Published on 01/10/17

In the book of Hebrews, chapter four we find that, “there remaineth therefore a rest for the people of God.” It is a great blessing that God has provided a “rest” for His people. There are those who live life in what could be characterized as a frantic search for significance. Now then, this is only one aspect of the rest that we have in Christ. It seems to me that in the Hebrews portion of Scripture we have two ideas that are expressed in the text. Most certainly there is the rest of salvation. This is found when we learn and accept that Christ has provided fully and completely for our salvation and all we need do is repent and trust in Him.

It seems also to me that there is a rest of what I would call service that is also intimated in the text. It is the idea that the goal and intent of the believer’s life is a quiet and consistent life of testimony in this world. And it must be understood that this life of testimony rises above the significance of any other achievement in life. Compare this with this text of Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 4:11
And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

Consider also these words from the Psalmist:

Psalm 131:2
Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.

I have found through the years that much of unsavory behavior comes from within a soul that has not found rest and quiet, souls that are looking and longing for recognition. Have you come to rest in your soul? Let me finish with this quote from Solomon:

Ecclesiastes 4:6
Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.