"Receive the Gift of Rest"

      Last week we looked at the idea of Sabbath as a command from God. We considered the idea of drawing a fence around time, and the importance of keeping a holy Sabbath---a time of rest, "set apart."

      This morning we look at the concept of Sabbath rest as it is presented in the fourth chapter of the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews emphasizes salvation in and through Christ. In this chapter, the concept of Sabbath rest is extended and expanded beyond the present moment. It is linked to Israel's past, to present salvation in Christ, and to God's future rest for all who believe. Because this scripture is pretty dense, let's look at a couple of verses at a time.

(Verses 1-2) Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to reach it. ?For indeed the 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. ?

      Here the author of Hebrews refers back to the time when the people of Israel wandered in the desert. They were out of slavery in Egypt, but they had not yet received God's promised rest in the land of Canaan. Most of the desert wanderers did not reach Canaan because they doubted, and perhaps most important, because they disobeyed God. Faith and obedience seem to be key here.

      With this background, we may be better able to understand what these wilderness wanderers might represent for us today: people who doubt, people who have a hard time obeying God's Word---which could describe most of us. It's not a big leap to compare ourselves to the people wandering in the wilderness. Like them, we are often in limbo. Like them, we often doubt the promises of God's Sabbath rest. Like them, we often do not enjoy the gift of Sabbath.

(Verse 3) For we who have believed enter that rest,

      God gives us who believe the gift of rest. We already get to enter God's rest, here and now, not just someday, not just when we die, not just when we finally reach the "land of Canaan."

      just as God has said, "As in my anger I swore, 'They shall not enter my rest,' " though his works were finished at the foundation of the world.

      This is a direct quote from Psalm 95 which also speaks of God's rest. At the end of this Psalm, God is angry with God's people because they were disobedient, and God withdraws the gift of rest. Here scripture acts as a warning. We might miss an opportunity for rest if we are disobedient to God. We are encouraged to respond in faith In order to avoid a similar situation to those who were disobedient to God in the wilderness desert.

(Verse 4) For in one place it speaks about the seventh day as follows, "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works."

      This is a direct quote from Genesis 2:2 and Exodus 20: 11 where we see the example of Sabbath rest (on the seventh day) set forward. Remember we are commanded to enter God's rest on the Sabbath. It is God's rest, not our own, which he invites us to share. And this makes all the difference in the world.

(Verses 9-10) So then, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; for those who enter God's rest also cease from their labors as God did from his. ?Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs. (This is the Word of the Lord.)

      Do you remember last week I commented on the depth of the meaning of Sabbath? Well here, the author of the book of Hebrews presents a nuanced and textured picture of Sabbath. The author takes the idea of "God rested" and extends it much further than simply a time of "stopping", even further than the concept of "holiness or a time set apart." Rest becomes a synonym for salvation, the presence of God now and in the future. God strongly desires to give us each this gift of rest/salvation/heaven. We also get the clear message that obedience to God's commands opens the way to such rest.

Let's look at what we see in this reading:

      Author Wayne Muller's book, Learning to Pray has the subtitle "How We Find Heaven on Earth." I am intrigued with the idea of "How We Find Heaven on Earth." Sabbath is God's gift to us. It is one of the ways we find heaven on earth. When we practice Sabbath, when we draw that fence around time and allow God to enter in, we get a little taste of heaven. Not only do we get a taste of heaven, we put ourselves into a place where God does his best work to turn us into heaven-bound creatures.

How does God work on us during Sabbath? When we practice Sabbath faithfully,

1. We lose the sense of our own importance.
2. We delight in God's creation.
3. We practice the habits of gratitude, listening, and attention to God.
4. We let go of our fear of rest, even our fear of death.
5. We surrender.
6. We are liberated from the need to be finished.
7. We realize that things cannot create peace.
8. We understand time is not money.
9. We let go of the desire for things.

      All these changes are nurtured and allowed within the space of Sabbath time. All bend us toward God, make us into heaven-bound creatures, and give us a taste of true happiness here and now.

      Sabbath is a gift of rest. A gift from God. There for the taking, if only we will claim it. The problem is, we want short cuts. We want to skip the discipline of the practice of Sabbath rest. We are almost convinced we can buy "rest" like we buy just about everything else. Almost convinced, but not quite.

      The business of "Rest" is big business. There is a huge amount of advertising devoted to selling "rest." Advertising tries to sell peace, tranquility, and rest, but really it isn't selling those things at all. If only we take that incredible vacation, then we will have peace. Just the right beautiful dinner out, with just the best wines, will give us happiness. Or make our spouse happy. Buy the sailboat of your dreams, or the fishing boat, or the RV, or the vacation home or the big screen television) and you will be contented and peaceful. Take a day just for yourself, indulge, and all those things that are troubling you will melt away. Or, if that's too expensive, just buy the right products, and relax in the privacy of your own home.

      The trouble with all of this is it doesn't work. We want what we think these things give. What we don't realize is what is being sold can't give us rest. It may have the opposite effect. If we are honest, we quickly discover the things we desire are temporary and unsatisfying. And we may find ourselves saddled with more debt, requiring more work, allowing less time to stop and receive God's gift of rest.

      The kind of rest God offers when we practice Sabbath is a kind of rest that cannot be purchased. It's a kind of rest that costs us nothing in terms of dollars but much in terms of surrendering our will to God.

      It is a kind of rest that transcends time, that changes time and our relationship to it. It is a kind of rest that cannot be bought, and yet we know these Sabbath moments, these Sabbath opportunities, are both costly and priceless.

      Sabbath is costly because it requires discipline. Costly because it requires obedience. Costly because it means (at least for a while) saying "NO" to all the things which demand our time and energy.

      Sabbath is priceless because it is pure gift, a gift from God to us who need it so very, very much.

      We continue to pray, Lord, that you will help us obey your command for Sabbath rest. Help us start somewhere. As we begin to carve out Sabbath time, encourage us to rest, relax, and have faith that you are present in this holy moment, in this quiet afternoon, in our naps and our play, as we worship and we pray. Give us a sense that we, too, receive a gift more precious than words can describe. A gift that links us to the grand history of the past, a gift that assures us of your presence now in our lives, and a gift that reassures us of your promises for our heaven-bound future.