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.

How To Deal With Today's Anxiety

I have this habit of scratching when I'm nervous or afraid. Often I don't even realize that I'm doing it until I notice some blotches on my skin. Others I know start to stutter or blink their eyes rapidly or twitch their mouth. We all manifest anxiety or fear one way or another. In the most extreme situations people become hypochondriacs.

For hypochondriacs everyday functions become obsessions. They misinterpret normal bodily functions. A rapid heart rate is probably a heart attack. Sweating must mean kidney failure. Hunger pangs and fatigue obviously mean the onset of some form of cancer. Surely I must quickly get to the emergency room or at least obtain another doctor's appointment today, tomorrow at the very latest.

Sometimes I wonder if Psalm writer David was not a bit of a hypochondriac. Take Psalm 39:1-13 for instance. He starts out by talking to himself. He is absolutely going to restrain himself before those total idiots he has to work with. He suspects they're out to get him one way or another. He gets so troubled by this that he starts burning up inside. This is bad, really bad.

But then he shifts and I realize these are not the words of a hypochondriac. These are the words of a devout man troubled not merely by what men say or think, but about the brevity of life. I can relate directly to that. He is aware that he can measure his days with a few handbreadths. Life is but a mere breath, a shadow. Why is that? Why do we all die? Why do we even concern ourselves about this?

Many years ago I distinctly recall stumbling across a passage from King Solomon's disturbing writings. He wrote, "God has made everything beautiful in its time." That, I thought, is true. We can sing about that. But then he went on, "Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end" (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

How easy it would be for David, Solomon and me if we were like dogs. Mine in particular is quite incapable of worrying about the brevity of his life. He has a problem with seizures every couple months. The vet says he can do little about that problem other than to dumb him down with some drugs. Neither my pet nor I want that, so when a seizure comes I hold him tight and we tremble through it together. After its over, he bounces up in about an hour and is ready to move on the same as always. He is not capable of all the fretting and fussing the two kings and I go through.

But we're not dogs. We are the cap of God's creation, bearing His very image within, made by Him for eternity. We can do nothing other than to beg our Creator, "look away from me" (Psalm 39:13). Please, God, do not look me in the eye and tell me again how I have messed up, failed and deserve to be utterly forsaken by You—forever! Help me before I depart and am no more.

And then I hear another cry from a direct descendant of King David. I see Him hanging on a Roman cross, crying out in Syro-Chaldaic, his native tongue, the words of another of David's psalms (Psalm 22:1), "Eli, Eli lama sabachthani?" Matthew interprets the strange words, "That is, My God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46).

As I hear those words my hypochondria begins to dissipate like morning fog. I realize again that He hung there so I can begin this day with a smile on my face. I am forgiven. My God is my heavenly Father who, for Christ's sake, has forgiven me. And when I depart, I will not cease to be, but I will dwell in the Father's house and among His children forever.