Rushing deadlines, applying for internships and jobs or maybe just planning what to do during Easter break – these are all valid and tangible concerns regarding the future which I often contemplate, and I am sure you do as well.
Considering all the demands that are placed in front of us, resting probably seems very counterintuitive. After all, we might reason “If we do not actively work, how can we get anything done?”. Yet, we are encouraged to be diligent to enter His rest (Hebrews 4:11 NKJV) – we need diligence precisely because it is difficult to rest when there seems to be so much work to do. However what does entering His rest mean?
The Bible says that after Jesus rose from the dead, God “seated Him at the right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:20-21 NKJV) and also “raised us up together and made us sit in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6 NKJV).
As Christians, we are paradoxically called to first rest in what has been done for us by Christ before we set out to do anything. Just as how Jesus sat down after his finished work through His death and resurrection, we also sit down with Him. Physically sitting down occurs when our entire weight rests upon the chair that we sit on. Similarly, to spiritually sit down with Christ means to rest our whole weight – burdens of our future, present and past, in whichever form that might take – upon the Lord, knowing that in Him we are forever far above all principality, power, might and dominion and every name that is named. Resting thus doesn’t necessarily mean inactivity, but refers to the posture of our dependence on the Lord.
Before we go about our daily affairs this week, let us therefore be diligent in entering His rest. Even as we work, let us remember to take time to remain in that state of rest and dependence on the Lord. Whether it is spending time reading the Bible, praising Him in worship, praying or talking to Him, or simply just taking a rest, let us be mindful and conscious that we can rest in the position we have in Christ and that we can trust in His faithfulness in all things.
