REST IN CHRIST PART II
If you are in Christ, rest. Those who believe are to view themselves as having finished their work, and therefore are able to rest—to rest in the fullness of Christ. We are complete in him (Col. 2:10).
The “rest” of the land of Canaan which the Israelites received was a type of the rest we have in Christ. The only ones who entered that rest were those who were faithful to God, those who believed in his promises. Joshua and Caleb entered the land while their contemporaries did not. Today, only those who believe in and trust in Christ have rest. If one refuses to rely completely on Jesus, they will forever be burdened because Christ is the only one who can take away fear of death and give us the strength we need to live a purposeful life. If we come to Christ, we are promised rest for our souls (Matt. 11:28-30).
Your inheritance from God is rest in Christ. When the Hebrew writer speaks of a rest remaining for the people of God (Heb. 4:9), he means we have been accepted by God in Christ. Jesus is our righteousness and our sanctification and our redemption (1 Cor. 1:30). Salvation is from faith to faith (Rom. 1:17). He is the author and finisher of our faith (Rom. 12:1). Everything is finished (John 19:30). We can rest.
When we realize what the finished work of Christ is, that we have all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 1:3), then we know what rest is about. The times of refreshing that come from the presence of the Lord is rest (Acts 3:20). Our lives are never the same after we enter into the rest of Jesus. Everything is new (2 Cor. 5:17).
After this life is over, we will enter into a rest in heaven that will last forever. Therefore, the rest of Christ would include the heavenly promises. Christ brings to us the first-fruits of everything that will be ours eternally. And he gives it to us now. This is not something that we have to wait for. Christ has ascended to the right hand of God, and we are there with him, seated in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6). That is our position before God. And we have every right to enjoy our inheritance now.
Christ is the captain of our souls (Heb. 2:9-11), our forerunner into heaven (Heb. 6:20). We are as certain for heaven as if we were already there. That is why we rest. To rest is to trust. After God finished the work of creation, he entered into his rest. After Jesus accomplished salvation, he entered into his rest. And when we love Christ, we partake of all that Christ has done and we enter into our rest. We rest from working for salvation, from a purposeless life. We rest from the opinions and approval of others. We focus only on Jesus and live the rest of our lives free to please him and live in a loving relationship of continual dependence.
Those who did not believe died in the wilderness instead of entering the Promised Land of Canaan. If you fall short because of your unbelief, you will not enter into the abundant life Jesus has for you now—a life of grace and mercy and rest. And you certainly will not enter into the heavenly rest. Give your heart and life to Jesus. Rely fully on what he has done for you. Rest in him.
Dewayne Dunaway
