As we begin our time this morning, let us reflect on the hymn before us which some hymnals have titled; “The Enjoyment of Heaven”. This hymn was written by Philip Doddridge. Doddridge was an English Pastor and Schoolteacher. In 1755, his friend, Job Orton, published a collection of his hymns after Dr. Doddridge’s death in 1751.
With that in context, it is interesting to read these words of expectations of rest.
Listen to these words:
1 Thine earthly Sabbaths, Lord, we love,
But there’s a nobler rest above;
To that our longing souls aspire,
With ardent pangs of strong desire.
2 No more fatigue, no more distress,
Nor sin nor hell shall reach the place;
No groans to mingle with the songs
Which warble from immortal tongues.
3 No rude alarms of raging foes;
No cares to break our long repose;
No midnight shade, no clouded sun,
Obscures the lustre of thy throne.
4 O long-expected day, begin!
Dawn on these realms of woe and sin:
Fain would we leave this weary road,
And sleep in death to rest with God.
(Words and notes adapted from https://hymnary.org/text/thine_earthly_sabbaths_lord_we_love )
Our scripture passage this morning is Hebrews 4:9, which reads:
“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, (Heb 4:9 ESV)
It is good to look forward to rest. We look forward to our next opportunity for rest almost immediately after taking leave. Many times we need a vacation from the vacation.
We look forward to the evening time and the weekends, so that we can have rest.
Our lives are so busy with work, with social events, and with our computers and our phones calling to us at all times. In fact, “Just over two-thirds of respondents (to a Hubbub survey) said they would like more rest.”
The great preacher R.G. Lee once wrote in his “Resolutions Concerning Myself” committed that “(He would) be balanced that neither work, nor play, nor rest, nor worship shall lose its proper share.”
It is a challenge to be balanced—but all too often it is the rest that is first to be discarded.
Billy Graham said:
“We are like a restless sea, finding a little peace here and a little pleasure there, but nothing permanent and satisfying. So the search continues!” (“Billy Graham in Quotes” p262)
So, we look at our verse today, Hebrews 4:9—reading from the Christian Standard Bible that says:
9 Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people. (Heb 4:9 CSB)
There is a Sabbath Rest coming for you to look forward to.
Like the second verse says:
“No more fatigue, no more distress,
Nor sin nor hell shall reach the place;
No groans to mingle with the songs
Which warble from immortal tongues.”
This will be that Heavenly Rest.
This is the rest that cannot be compared to the rest on Earth as today’s first verse states:
“Thine earthly Sabbaths, Lord, we love,
But there’s a nobler rest above;
To that our longing souls aspire,
With ardent pangs of strong desire.”
As good as we can have it here, it cannot compare to the rest above.
The Bible says in Revelation 21:4–
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev 21:4 ESV)
This is the sure hope that we have in eternity. The eternal rest in Christ.
But there is also the Earthly Rest.
Jesus says;
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Mat 11:28 ESV)
There is rest available here on Earth—through Christ.
Through Christ you can lay your burdens down on him. All of your worries, all of your cares—you can relax knowing that placing your concerns in his lap is the best thing you can do.
We remember last August when Hurricane Harvey flooded Houston, there was a great number of people called the “Texas Navy” that brought out their own fishing and recreational boats to rescue people trapped in the flood waters. Several thousands of people were brought to safety this way.
Some of you, this morning, fell like you may need a water rescue.
The flood waters are rising. The waves are beginning to crash. You may feel like you are treading water and beginning to lose strength.
Jesus calls to you to get in his boat.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Mat 11:28 ESV)
When you climb in the boat, you are able to find rest.
The water is still there, the waves are still there but you are resting inside the safety of the boat.
This is my message for you today.
Place you cares on him. Rest in Him. He will give you the rest that you need and he will never let you go.
There is a rest ahead—that rest that we can look forward to and strive for.
And there is rest that we find here on Earth—
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phl 4:7 ESV)
This rest that is only found through placing our Faith in Jesus. I invite you to place your whole hearted faith in him today!
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Photo by Simon Matzinger on Unsplash