10.21.2009

Entering His Rest - So That's How It's Done!

I was reading Hebrews chapter 4 this morning, when the Holy Spirit made something incredibly clear to me. (Don't you love it when you read God's Word and it comes alive?) I normally read with an NIV Bible, but this morning I had my KJV out, and a huge difference just leapt off the pages. My NIV translation refers to this passage as a Believers Sabbath-rest, while my KJV introduced it as simply the Promise of Rest. Really that interesting of a difference? Yes, very!

I'm not going to insert the entirety of the chapter here, because I really would like to encourage you to read it for yourself (with NIV and KJV/NKJV in hand). Not to mention, if I get too wordy here, I'll lose ya. Why? Because when I get too wordy I lose my own train of thought and that just doesn't get you anywhere fast.

Before I say what I'm here (at this extremely late hour) to say, let me mention that for my entire Christian walk (most of my life, as I was raised in a God-fearing home) I've never, let me repeat, NEVER given heed to the differences of Biblical translations. I realize some people can become extremely legalistic about this issue, and I'm not even going to go there.

However, the older I've gotten, and the more I have grown in the Word, the more aware I have become that there are differences in translations. That is a totally different post for another time, but I will say that if your heart is yearning for the truth, and your spirit is surrendered, the Holy Spirit will show you the important differences. I promise you. It's literally like a member of the Godhead has whipped out a high-powered super bright flashlight and pierced the smallest sliver of a shadow you never knew was there.

Got your Bible? Good, start reading. Chapter 4. Rest. Got it. I'm going to keep this short and simple because I want you to check it out for yourselves. You're probably going to read this and say "Huh?" so I want you to chew on it for a bit.


  • At the end of 6 days worth of creating the universe, God, the Creator, rested. His work was finished.
  • The Old Testament law required a Sabbath rest as an act of obedience to God, as a way to enter His rest. (Keep in mind that everything that took place in the Old Testament was a type and shadow of Christ and what He was going to do in the coming days.)

  • Christ came, lived, and died. Fulfilling prophecy, saving mankind from the curse of sin, His finished work at the Cross. Completed. 
We enter His rest, how? (Check out verse 10) By ceasing our works, just as God did when he finished Creation, and (dun dun dunnn!) entering His rest.

Sabbath-rest is, in essence, a work of the flesh. Just as the entirety of the Old Testament laws were nothing more than acts of human effort trying to make up for imperfect man-offered sacrifices.

Rest, just simple entering into God's rest - requires we cease our works, which to me translates into FAITH. Faith in that finished work of Christ's atonement.

Do you see what I'm saying here?

*tap tap tap*

There is a HUGE difference between Sabbath-rest and entering the Promise of Rest. It's like Old Testament sacrifice versus THE sacrifice of a pure and spotless lamb Christ Jesus. That is a HUGE difference! HUGE!
  • God finished his Creation, ceased his work, and entered into His rest. 
  • Christ finished it ALL, ceasing all need for the Old Testament law of works so WE can enter into His rest. 
  • We enter his rest when we obey the call to place our Faith wholly and completely in Christ Jesus and what He did on the Cross. When we look anywhere else for our rest (whether that be serving, self reliance, legalism, self righteousness, works, etc...) we're in disobedience and no longer are we resting in Him (verse 6) - wowzers! 
I told ya I was going to keep this short (for me, anyway!) because seriously, you need to read this for yourselves. I'm not arguing works vs faith, or even keeping a Sabbath day. I'm simply pointing out that God totally just gave me a revelation about my faith in the finished work of Christ and it ROCKED.MY.SOCKS.

It's not about what we do. When we do it. Where, or how. It's about truly, and I do mean truly putting our faith in Christ Jesus. Something as sacred to our Christianity as a Sabbath day really has no bearing in whether or not we are in the beautiful Rest of our Father. All He wants from us is our Faith.

And just so you know, simple Faith is easier said than done. No wonder our human nature relies so heavily on works. To do works is the easy way, but Faith requires submission. Surrender. Absolute, complete, total, one hundred percent genuine surrender.

But, man! The reward is so worth it.

Now, if you'll excuse me, it's nearly midnight and I'm going to go to bed with a smile on my face, because I'm resting in Him. And it feels GREAT. 

4 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness, LeAnna...thank you for sharing your heart so SIMPLY yet vividly. Praise God for His living, breathing, speaking Word. Not the "words" on the page. Not the translation. His VOICE Word. :)
    The picture and explanation of true rest was needed. The meaning of Sabbath and keeping that time holy has been lost on us, I believe. It's not necessarily Sunday morning worship. It's the Sabbath rest we choose to partake in anytime, anywhere.

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  2. Thanks so much for sharing your revelations, LeAnna! Wow. This is exactly what the Lord has been communicating to me in various ways the past few months. We miss it, us Church people! We miss the best part and strive and work ourselves out of the joy of the Lord and the faith in His work. Thanks again, for sharing.

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  3. Thank you dear LeAnna! :) This was refreshing and delightful to read. There is such peace when our hearts are at rest in Him...

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  4. So like about halfway through reading your post I literally went "OH I get it!!" I swear the lightbulb cam on over my head! I'm gonna have to go read that now... Thanks!

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Please keep in mind Luke 6:45 (A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.), Proverbs 21:23 (Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.) and Psalm 19:14 (May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.)before posting a comment.