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I just signed up for one of the retail, credit reporting
services, to check out my credit score and see what I can
do to increase our chances of getting a loan for a house.
That got me thinking about the daunting task of finding
a house to buy, after home prices have increased 200% over
the last few years, according to a local builder.
I looked over my credit report and saw details of our
recent loans, and the thousands of dollars we've spent on
stuff. All of this got me thinking about the time when we
won't have to worry about credit reports and borrowing money.
We will rest from our labors, living in heaven with God
for eternity.
Jesus Will Give You Rest
Jesus invites everyone to be His disciple, taking His yoke
upon them and doing His will. Everyone who is willing to
obey Jesus is rewarded with eternal rest. Jesus' invitation
is:
- "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and
I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn
from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you
will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and
My burden is light" (Matt. 11:28-30).
Do Not Fall Short of God's Grace
The apostle Paul explains that Israel did not enter God's
rest. Rather, God swore in His wrath that they would not
enter His rest (Heb. 4:3).
Israel heard God's word, but it did not profit them, because
it was not united by faith in those who heard (Heb. 4:2).
Therefore, Paul admonishes us to "fear if, while a promise
remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to
have come short of it" (Heb. 4:1).
Esau is an example of one who did not fear, and fell short.
Paul uses him as an example, saying:
- "See to it that no one comes short of the grace of
God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble,
and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or
godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright
for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards,
when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected,
for he found no place for repentance, though he sought
for it with tears" (Heb. 12:15-17).
We Must Be Diligent to Enter God's Rest
To avoid falling short of God's grace, we must be diligent
to enter God's rest, through obedience to Christ (Heb. 5:9).
- "Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so
that no one will fall, through following the same example
of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active
and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as
far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints
and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions
of the heart" (Heb. 4:11-12).
God's Rest: Living for Eternity in Heaven
Christians who are diligent to enter God's rest through
obedience to Jesus Christ, enter heaven, where they rest
from their labors for eternity. This is the place where
"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there
will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any
mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed
away" (Rev. 21:4).
When we get to heaven, we'll rest from our labors. We
won't have to worry about credit reports, borrowing money,
or buying stuff, just worshiping God.
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