So then, there remains a sabbath rest for the people of God. Hebrews 4:9
The purpose of Jesus’ first advent may correctly be described as in order to bring rest into the world. “Our souls are restless,” cried St. Augustine, “until they find their rest in Thee.” Jesus great invitation to the masses was couched in the words, “Come unto me,…. and I will give you rest.”
In a far fuller sense it may be said that Jesus’ second coming will be in order to initiate perfect and complete rest, of which the Sabbath day at the end of the creation week was just a faint picture. In both the Old and New Testaments heaven is spoken of as our eternal rest. The book of Revelation declares that already now those who are at home with the Lord are blessed because “they rest from their labors.”
This does not mean that heaven is a place of idleness. To the contrary, the saints in glory are described as serving God day and night, indicating the absence of all fatigue and monotony. But in that delightful busyness they find self-satisfaction, fulfillment, contentment – in a word, rest. Heaven is the discovery to the full that Christ’s service is easy and His burden is light.
The godless, by contrast, will enter upon a state that can be scribed as eternal restlessness. “They rest not day nor night” is the doleful description of hell. Even the little so-called rest that the unbeliever experiences here upon earth (for they are by nature a restless people) will be taken away when the great separation takes place.
Today is supposed to be a day of rest, a sample of heaven according to a well known gospel hymn. Is it a day of rest for you and your family or a day of rust?
know who you are 