Isn't the word 'rest' beautiful?
All the images it calls up for us
holidays, a coffee break, lying in on Saturday, soaking in a hot tub
sunbathing, a walk in the park, kicking the leaves
a five minute break on a mountain hike to get our breath
or just to sit down in the kitchen and get the weight off our feet
It's good to rest
Hebrews c 4 talks about rest in 2 linked and special ways
it talks about 'Sabbath rest', the one day in seven God said should be special
and for rest, even for the animals
and the writer links that to what has sometimes been called the endless Sabbath
the rest of God's redeemed people in heaven
when all work is done, and there is an end to all worry, stress and weariness.
But he warns us by the example of the people of Israel under Moses.
They had escaped form Egypt.
It was only a short journey to their 'rest' in the promised land
but they were unbelieving and disobedient.
They would not believe that they could overcome their enemies
and occupy the promised land;
they disobeyed God and gave way to their fears
and started to grumble and complain about their situation.
That was the 'evil unbelieving heart' which we read about a fortnight ago
So he urges in v 11
'Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest,
so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. '
Isn't that an interesting phrase? Let us ... make every effort to enter that rest,
Think about it, for usually the thing about effort is that you don't rest
or the lovely thing about rest is that you don't need to do anything!
What does the writer mean?
Don't we believe that we are not saved by works and efforts
and yet we are urged to make every effort to enter that rest?
Well, what is not meant in any sense if that we can earn our rest
that if we do some religious or moral things, we do enough to satisfy God.
Salvation, being at rest and peace with God, is a pure free undeserved gift
But gifts need to be unwrapped,
gifts need to be received and appreciated and used
Suppose someone came up here and made a special presentation to me
with a beautifully wrapped gift
and I just took it and put it to one side and went on with the service
what would you think? Wouldn't you be on the edge of the seat to urge me
'Do something John, exert yourself! At least unwrap it and pretend to like it
If I just left the gift there,
would you not conclude that I had not really received the gift.
When you go away on holidays your letters are delivered but they lie on the mat
delivered but not received.
Isn't there a bit of an effort even to opening a letter or accessing your e mails.
I received a parcel last week. At first I didn't receive it because we were out
but the postman put a note through the door
to collect it from the central sorting office.
So I had to make an effort and I did collect it and was pleased to receive it.
How many people leave the gift of Christ delivered -
they hear the gospel, they come to church, they know that he died for their sins,
but this gift is not received, not collected, not unwrapped, not appreciated?
They are baptised, they attend the Lord's Supper. They claim to be Christian
but they will not make the effort of hearing and believing
because it would be too much trouble
this idea of having a personal friendship with Jesus Christ
which will challenge us and stretch us as well as reassure and comfort us.
Two of our friends from Korea told us at bible study this week
that some people in Korea reject the idea of believing in Jesus Christ personally
because that would be too serious, they want an easier religion.
Indeed you can have fun as a Christian the best fun, joyful, pure free
but it is a serious business to enter into the rest offered to us, it takes effort
I wonder if in this country we make as clear the cost, the effort, the seriousness
as the church makes clear in Korea, as Hebrews 4 makes clear?
What kind of effort is involved? Please don't misunderstand me
I am not talking about long faces and painful intense straining to find God
but there are things we are to do, disciplines to follow, habits to cultivate
which will stretch us but gibe us the true joy of entering God's rest
LISTEN TO GOD
12 'For the word of God is living and active.
Sharper than any double-edged sword,
it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow;
it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.
Everything is uncovered and laid bare
before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.'
What do we come to church for?
Isn't it to listen to what God says and to do something about it.
Here are 2 important questions we should ask every time we leave church:
What did I hear from God today? What am I going to do about it?
The problem with the Israelites on the edge of the desert
was that they heard God but they did not believe
'those who heard did not combine it with faith' v2
and also in v 6 they did not go in because of their disobedience.
Not to believe God when he says: Trust me, I'll look after you'
is also to disobey God.
To hear God's word in a sermon or your own personal Bible reading
is a wonderful thing but God does not speak to give us more religious knowledge
He wants us to do something about our lives
to rest in him certainly
but also to face up to the harsher realities where we need to change
to love those we find hard to love, to pay our taxes, to be truthful and honest
not to lose our tempers when things get difficult, not to gossip ...
to face up to our weaknesses with money or sex or selfishness
or wherever our problems lie
You see, it is a two edged sword, the word of God, it cuts against us
as well as against those who may seem to be more obviously sinful.
Who among us is not satisfied that the tribunal report has clearly identified
those guilty of corruption in high places?
But when we pass a judgement on those
who have cheated and disgraced our country
even though it may be a right judgement.
God's two edged sword says that we pass judgement on ourselves.
If we really want to hear what God says
we have to be open to life changing issues,
our own lives not the other person's next to you.
And making the effort of listening also involves the effort of
MAKE SPACE FOR GOD SABBATH
The writer here is concentrating on the eternal sabbath still to come in heaven
without work or worry or strain
but we make a great mistake if we ignore the staging posts God gives
at least one a week in our earthly lives.
Now I come from a Northern Irish background
where one of the big political issues of my childhood
was whether to let children to play on swings on Sunday in public parks.
We laugh at that now, we congratulate ourselves on being much more relaxed
but what is the major cause of discontent in today's sophisticated society?
What are they always talking about on the chat shows?
The problem of stress, that people can't cope with the rush of modern life.
I am not supporting padlocking the swings but don't you see a link
between a society which has lost the concept of a day of rest
and the rising levels of stress?
If we would enter into the rest of a one day in seven break as God commands
it requires making every effort.
It doesn't require a list of do's and don'ts which will be imposed on everybody
but it does require keeping one or two basic principles before us.
One is to make relationships your priority on Sunday.
Your relationship with God in worship and in private prayer
and your relationship with others, family, friends.
We should make every effort to create time and space just to chat and relax
not in wearisome tasks
which can perfectly well be done on Saturday or wait until Monday.
Shopping, housework, talking about work ...plan not to do those things
plan to find ways to say to people gently but firmly
that you don't discuss work on Sunday,
that you'll come back to them on another day.
don't we need a break
One Sunday which I think to be extra special is Communion Sunday the day of
COME TO GOD'S FEAST
I find it a particularly restful service, one where I can sit, and not speak so much
but the bread and wine and the spirit of God do the speaking.
Of course somebody has to work to prepare the table
and we appreciate that behind the scenes activity
but the whole point of the Lord's Supper is that it is a place of rest,
it's not about what we do but what God has done in Jesus
we are the guests invited, he prepares the feast
and we receive in faith and give thanks.
But even here, there is an effort which we must make
AFTER EXAMINING YOURSELF
It is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 11 which we read at the table
that we should each examine ourselves to see if we discern the Lord's body
and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup
That means particularly asking what effort we are making
to recognise and love other members of the body.
Some Corinthian Christians were making a mockery of the Lord's Supper
by being drunk at their fellowship meal
and ignoring and despising the less well off members
who had to come in late because they had to work.
We need to ask ourselves how things are in our prayer life,
are serious about our friendship with God through Jesus Christ
You know how we need to work at our friendships in everyday life,
we drift away from people unless we make the effort to have time with them
write to them call them
Why should it be different in our walk with God
and how could we presume to come to his feast
when we ignore him or ignore other Christians
or we have sin our lives which we are not prepared to bring to the light
to have it dealt with
Something I am saying to the folk in the church membership class
is that it is far better not to come to the Lord's table
if they are not ready for it
if they don't want the power of Christ to change their life.
And that I also say to everyone here today
even if you have been coming to communion for years
if you are not ready today, don't receive in a spirit that would make a mockery.
If you have problems with other people, if you have a problem with God
if you cannot sense his peace and acceptance
then it would be much better to wait,
simply sit quietly as the bread and cup are shared and ask the Lord to help you
with whatever stops you having a true friendship with Christ
and an open attitude to other people.
BE DIFFERENT FOR GOD
Something I also am saying to the communicants' class
is that being a Christian can be difficult
it will involve being different.
Some people will think us odd if we say that Jesus is our friend
that we base our lives on him
Some people will laugh at us
Some people may have it in for us
if we follow through on what Jesus says
in how we live our lives
and refuse to go along with their assumptions
Some people will want to stop us being so serious.
Some people in other places actually kill Christians because they are different.
It is costly to follow Christ.
Yes a wonderful rest is waiting for us
but not without effort now, not without pain
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith be courageous; be strong.
Do everything in love.
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