Our Radical Need For Rest

The world we live in is filled with anxiety, stress and tension. And we don't know how to get rid of it. As a result so very many of us cannot sleep. And that can indeed be a very, very serious problem. Lack of sleep, even for one night, can reduce your daytime alertness by as much as a third and impair your memory and ability to think. Studies indicate that sleepiness doubles the risk of getting hurt on the job. In the U.S. the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that each year drowsy driving is responsible for 100,000 automobile crashes, 71,000 injuries and as many as 1,550 fatalities.

Sleep is not an option. Lots of studies support what our bodies tell us. We have to sleep. But there is an even deeper need. The writer to the Hebrews calls it God's Rest ! After pointing out that the first generation descendants of Israel led by Moses out of slavery in Egypt never received it, the writer continues.

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, 

"As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter my rest,'" although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 

For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works" (Gen. 2:2). 

And again in this passage he said, "They shall not enter my rest" (Deut. 1:34-35).  

Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he appoints a certain day, 

"Today," saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts" (Ps. 95:7-11). 

For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. - Hebrews 4:1-10 ESV

The entire OT points to God's promised Sabbath-rest. We learn from Scriptures that God created the week of seven days and decreed that His people should rest on the seventh as He did. Some Rabbis in days gone by asked if God did anything before He rested on the seventh day. Yes, they replied, He had one more thing to do. Before He could step back to exult and delight in His work of creating, He created peace, joy and happiness. He did this because He wants His children to celebrate with Him the perfect balance and marvelous wonder of all He has created. He wants to bless them with an entire day in which to rejoice and be happy as they ponder upon and celebrate His wisdom and goodness.

This is what the LORD promised Israel when He led them out of slavery under Moses' leadership. In essence He was promising, "Trust Me, follow Me, obey Me and I will bring you into the land I promised to your forefather Abraham. It is a land overflowing with good things, food, drink and all you need for life. I will make you secure. You will become the mightiest nation upon earth and no enemies will ever harm you again. I will put my name upon you and bless you, for you are My children."

But they blew it. They threw it away. They hardened their hearts, complaining and chasing after idols. And so they all perished in the wilderness. No rest for the wicked. No rest for unbelievers. But . . .

"there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his" (Hebrews 4:9-10 ESV). 

Rest is still waiting for you today! God holds it out: perfect peace, happiness, security, fullness and joy.  It awaits you and you have nothing to do to gain it other than to trust Him. More on this next time.

Would God Lead Us Into Temptation?

Why on earth should I pray, "Our Father . . . lead us not into temptation?" Does the Father in heaven ever lead anyone into temptation? And if so, why? Surely He would not want to tempt us to disobey Himself or turn our backs upon Him. And if not, why does the LORD Jesus teach us such a prayer. Is He misleading us and not really suggesting that our Father would want to lead us into temptation?

I'm confused.

Let's take another look at this petition.

Once the disciples came to Jesus, asking his opinion about who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus called a child to join them and then said, "Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Then he went on to warn about temptations to sin—or to be more precise, stumbling blocks along the path.

"For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! - Mat 18:7 ESV

Necessary? Perhaps inevitable is a better translation, because of the ways of the world and the people that live in it. What else could we expect? The ordered world of men is opposed to the will and plan of God. It is filled with skandala, the Greek word for the movable trigger of a trap, a trap stick. It refers to anything set up along one's path of life that might cause you to stumble or be caught. It may be either that trap stick or a stone set in the way. Metaphorically it refers to any person or event or anything by which you are drawn into sin, unbelief or rejection of the LORD. Once the trap door drops you're caught and cannot get away.

This is why Paul warns, for instance, about those who love to cause dissension and divisions among members of the Body of Christ. They love to set up traps that are contrary to the teachings we learned from our fathers and teachers. They're not at all interested in building up your faith in Jesus, Paul says. All they're really interested in is themselves and what's in it for them. So they use smooth, apparently profound and wise talk, mixed with flattery. It sounds so very learned, so intelligent, so very interesting—so modern. In this manner they deceive the hearts of those untrained to sort out their deceptions, those Paul calls the naive (Romans 16:17-18).

So back to our prayer. Why does our Father in heaven bring us into such situations? Whatever for? I suppose that's really another way of saying, Why doesn't He simply pluck us up and take us completely out of the world to some place where there is no temptation to sin? But of course that's quite impossible, is it not? Fly to a deserted island in the Pacific and you'll still have your own sinful heart, to say nothing of the demons assigned to lead you away from your LORD. As long as we live in this present world we will have such struggles and stresses. Listen to Jesus.

In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. - John 16:33 ESV

Temptations to sin are inevitable in this world. The fight will go on! There is no escaping it. We're in a war. So we pray for help to overcome the world. Teach us how to fight. Teach us the ways of the enemy. Arm us, train us, equip us for this war. And give us victory today!

More about the battle in my next post.

Conflict Among Brothers

It's one thing to have to deal with conflict, but it is quite another to have to deal with slander and betrayal by one you thought was a close friend. And the pain grows when this one is not only a close friend, but a believer with whom you work and pray with in the church. In those times we all begin to feel like David when he prayed, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest" (Psalm 55:6).

Conflict among and between friends in the church is a very bitter pill to swallow. It seems but natural in those times to want out, even to long for death and the joys of heaven. Short of that, I've prayed for the LORD to take me to another town, among another people. That, however, only increases the pain, for then I would have to deal with the loss and support of other dear and close friends.

There once was a time in my life when this prayer for wings like a dove filled my heart. I did not want to abandon my wife and children. I did not want to leave my friends who were so precious to me, but I wanted out, I wanted to escape somehow. I wanted rest. I wanted to go home at night and not have to discuss the conflicts with my wife or burden my children with the anger and disappointment that never left me. I wanted to smile and not have to pretend. I wanted to laugh and really feel happy. But it was not to be. The wings of a dove were not mine to have.

What does one do in times such as this? How does one survive? The prayer of Jesus sustains us all in such times. He anticipated that this very thing would happen to him when his dear and close friend Judas would betray him. Once, when many disciples rejected him, Jesus said, "Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil" (John 6:70-71). Later, while the disciples were sharing the Passover on the night before His crucifixion, Jesus said to Judas, "What you are going to do, do quickly" (John 13:27).

As always, Jesus knows and understands what we must at times endure. He knows in His heart the pain of being slandered and betrayed by close friends. He knows the longing for the wings like a dove and the passionate desire for rest. Yet it is through us that He brings His Word and shares forgiveness and compassion.

So our High Priest prays, "I am no longer in the world, but they are, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. . . I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one" (John 17:11-15).

If you are dealing with such matters or ever have to, take Jesus' prayer to heart. His prayers are ever heard by the holy Father. And while you remain in this world and find you must continue in the vocation and calling assigned to you, the same Father will give you the inner peace and strength to endure the conflict and continue. Here again are the words of David.

"Cast your burden on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved" (Psalm 55:22).

How I Deal With Stress

A couple months ago I went to my ophthalmologist for my annual checkup. I've had dry eye syndrome and the possible beginning of cataracts. He checks to see if those conditions have changed and whether I have any signs of glaucoma. He also tests my eyes to see if I need a new prescription for my near sightedness. He said everything appeared to be good and that I'd need no new glasses this year.

As he was about to leave, I told him I was seeing jagged flashes of light along the edges of my vision, sometimes on the left and other times on the right. All of a sudden he became very concerned and began to question me at length. The next thing you know, he had me doing a number of other tests. I even had to submit blood and come back for another appointment. All this had me quite concerned and, as I usually do, I began to fuss and worry that I was about to lose my eyesight or something.

When I came back a week later he looked at my eyes with his instruments again, lights out, look up, right, down, look ahead into the light and all that. Then he turned on the room lights and said, "I find nothing unusual in your blood work, and for a man your age, your eyes seem healthy."

We talked some more in that fashion before he excused me. "Perhaps you need to calm down and rest when this condition occurs," he said. "Other than that, I have nothing to suggest."

Calm down? Me? I'm not under stress. Or am I? As the weeks went by it happened again and again. Each time it did I thought about his words. So I decided to take the good doctor at his word. I stop, sit in my easy chair, elevate my legs, close my eyes and focus upon nothing but being calm, letting my shoulders relax, breathing slowly—all the calming exercises I've ever learned. I also find it helpful to turn on quiet music, like Calm Radio, an Internet station featuring the peaceful, soft music of piano, wind and string instruments. I love it.

In those moments of quiet and peace I give myself back to my Creator from whom all good things come, quietly thanking and singing praises to Him.

And what do you know? The flashes gradually disappear. Perhaps the doctor is right. I'm putting myself under stress and pressure and the flashes are a result.

It's so easy in our pushing, running, go here, get this done life to become tensed and stressed. Stress is not all bad. It's a response built in my our Creator to help us deal with what we perceive as a threat. Whether physical or emotional, our nervous system responds to threats by releasing stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones get us ready for emergency action, ready to fight or flee, whatever seems appropriate. Our hearts pound faster, muscles tighten, blood pressure rises, breath quickens, and our senses sharpen. These changes increase our strength and speed our reaction time.

All that's good—except when it isn't. In my own case, I create these situations inwardly and the stress puts pressure on my eyes. The flashes seem to be the result, one of my signs of stress. When that happens, I'm learning to stop, slow down and get into my calming process. 

Words like these from Holy Scripture also help me.  

"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound" (Psalm 92:1-3). 

"Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer. . . You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD , make me dwell in safety" (Psalm 4:1,7-8).