So, the last few days I’ve been really ill. To be honest, I’m not sure from what. This cough came on suddenly, my head began pounding, and these heaving chest coughs would come out of me if I laughed, or talked, or…well they just came, and frequently. This came after I had taken some kids to camp a few days earlier for a Preaching contest, and had worked several days straight without much rest. Yet, I could not afford (or so I thought) to miss any more days in the Church Office, so, yesterday, I came in. And then I had to leave and go home. I wasn’t well enough to work. I just pushed myself to go do the work that I thought I had to do. After over a week of working (I didn’t take any days off, not really, anyway), my body just couldn’t handle it any more. I was feeling so terrible, I even missed my kids last league game of the season (though I watched in on livestream). So I went home, laid down on my couch in the dark, and asked “Why? Lord, why can’t I get anything done today? Why did I have to miss all of these things?”
That’s when it hit me: I’ve read my Bible, I’ve done all the work “I’m supposed to do,” but I’ve hardly rested, and I haven’t been still before God. Not by a long shot. I’m not saying sickness is my reward for not resting and being still before God, but it sure was a good reminder that I needed to be! God ordained rest. It’s not an unholy blot on our schedule where something must be done to make sure all of our time slots are filled. Rest is a gift from God, who, in fact, is our rest. Our reward at the end of the day for our struggles is Rest, and God is our rest. Our reward at the end of the week from all of our toils is rest, and God is our rest. Loved ones, this something we do wrong, a lot. We have an empty portion of our day/week, we feel the need to be productive, but nothing is more productive than sitting still in the presence of God, and resting without any other distractions. God wants us to enter in to His rest. Why do we fight it so much, and why does He have to go to such lengths to remind us?
Matthew 11:25-30
At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Hebrews 4:6-13
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.”
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.
Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
