In Genesis 2:1-3, God has created the universe that was deemed “good” for man to inhabit. Isaiah 45:18 says, “For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): “I am the Lord, and there is no other’”. He created an environment, food system and living creatures all for the good pleasure and use by humans. When God created man, Scripture says that “behold, it was very good”. When we think of God as being good and we think of His loving kindness, think about what He said was good. The earth we live on, the food we eat, the air we breathe and the creatures we encounter, our relationship with God; all these things are good. Very good! Imagine if all the “good” things were taken away.
There are several things that are unique about the seventh day. One very obvious, but often overlooked, fact is that the seventh day is the only day in which there is no mention of it ending. All previous days contain the description “and the evening and the morning were the Nth day”. There are several opinions out there regarding whether these days were a literal 24-hour period or not. Many people take the verse 2 Peter 3:8 to mean that God took several thousands of years to create all that He created. However, why would Scripture make certain that each day ended with an evening and a morning? This is why I believe it was a literal 24-hour period. Those that use 2 Peter 3:8 as their argument, simply take that verse out of context.
Genesis 2:2 says that God ended His work and rested. Does this mean that God was tired and exhausted over the work He had performed? I would emphatically say, “No!” God created this earth with such ease that I am hard-pressed to even think that He grew the least bit weary. We can never fully grasp an infinite God who goes beyond any human thought; no matter how high and lofty that thought may be. The word “rested” here simply means that He stopped or ceased. This means that what God had created was exactly according to His will. It was a perfect creation and He was finished; He rested.
The fact that the seventh day does not contain an evening or a morning is very significant. This more than likely refers to the promise of entering “His rest” which will be for eternity (no beginning or ending). What is this “rest” that I am talking about? This rest is mentioned several times in the book of Hebrews and also in Psalms. We will look more into what this “rest” is and what it means to the true Christian, but there is more we need to extract from Genesis before we move on.
Genesis 2:3 says that God blessed and sanctified the seventh day. This, to me, is huge. God blesses this day and then sets it apart (sanctified). What did God set the seventh day apart from? Did He simply set it apart from the previous six days or is there something else that this means? Remember that sanctified can also mean to make holy. God blessed and made this day holy. Also remember that this was before the fall, so everything was still good and perfect. Adam and Eve also enjoyed a perfect, holy and uninterrupted relationship with God. This was God’s original plan for His creation. This world and everything in it belongs to Him and His desire was for us to enjoy it with Him in perfect harmony.
Now let’s go to the book of Hebrews to discover what this “rest” is. To keep this writing short, we must keep in mind the theme of the entire book. The theme of Hebrews is: Christ is greater than any angel, priest or old covenant institution; thus each reader, rather than leaving such a great salvation, is summoned to hold on by faith to the TRUE REST found in Christ and to encourage others in the church to persevere (ESV Theme for Hebrews: Caps added). There is a “rest” that is only found by the true Christian. Hebrews is very specific on how that “rest” is realized. In Chapter 3 of Hebrews, the writer quotes Psalm 95 giving the negative example of the Children of Israel. We see clearly why they were not ushered into the Promise Land (i.e. Rest). Their hearts were hardened, they were disobedient and they were full of unbelief. Therefore, God said, “As I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest.”
So far, I have said a lot about the seventh day and God’s rest, but I have not yet defined what it means to the Christian today. I want to be very careful here to be certain that I explain this without stepping outside the context of Scripture. I continue to write with much fear and trembling, but also with a great desire to make this clear as a means in self-examination for all who read this.
Hebrews chapter 4 brings clarity to this teaching: “Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’” Continuing on, “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
I bet this is the first time Hebrews 4:12 has been presented to you in this context. Quite honestly, it surprised me when I first began this study, but now I see why it is there. When a Christian becomes a true Christian, he or she enters into a Sabbath rest. This rest is evidenced by a clear conscience. The conscience is clear by the supremacy of Jesus and His sacrifice. When a true Christian looks to the Word of God they are fully exposed and completely naked in the eyes of God. Knowing this, they come before Him with confidence that they may receive mercy and find grace (Heb 4:16). With that in mind, we should never allow the influences of evil to enter into our presence. Yet we often do through various forms of media (i.e. TV, movies, radio, books, etc.). If things enter into our lives that do not glorify God and The Sacrificial Lamb of God, it must be dealt with. Are you willing to fight against “spiritual forces of evil” (Eph 6:12); even if it may cost you everything? When evil enters in, we must be sanctified again by confessing and repenting (I John 1:9); this is the only way to enter into His rest until we ushered into His presence and carried off into Glory for eternity. Until then, it’s a moment by moment cleansing; a lifestyle of repentance and growing obedience to His Holy Word. That is God’s Rest.
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