Connecting Point: Next Rest Stop, 60 Miles

From west to east, Montana’s northern border stretches 545 miles. Then, more to the middle of the state along the freeway I-90 spans the greatest distance in one state at 552 miles across. Driving at a sane speed of 75mph, it takes close to 8 hours to make the trip—nonstop! I, for one, when it comes to road travel prefer to get from point A to point B as fast as possible. Just a few years ago family trips challenged me. Inevitably, I too soon heard from one of the kids, “I’ve got to go, bad! When’s the next stop, Dad?”

All this to introduce Chapter 4 of the Letter to the Hebrews: I’ve been enjoying writing one chapter per week. Here is one essential takeaway. I needed to take some time to understand the author’s intention, to slow down, stop, and think One can get easily confused about “rest” in this context, all the references to Israel, their disobedience, and even God’s rest on the seventh day. The main point the author’s trying to convey is faith in what Christ has done through the cross and empty grave is how our salvation is secured. Individually, we “rest” from our attempts to earn righteousness and “stop” in essence struggling to earn our way to heaven. Jesus is our rest stop

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“Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating 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,” (Hebrews 4:9-12). How might we make effort?

Any effort made must be based on diligent faith in Christ. “Therefore, we must fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also did; but the word they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united with those who listened with faith,” (NASB). Many of the Israelites didn’t make it into the Promised Land because of their disobedience; they knew of the promise but didn’t enter into that rest. This is not to say that Moses and others didn’t find eternal rest upon death. The focus here is solely on finding completeness in Jesus. One can have “head knowledge” of Jesus but it’s

more imperative to have a heart change, which is resting in Jesus.

Moreover, all our efforts are tested by the word of God. God sees us at our deepest levels, physically, emotionally, and, especially spiritually. The Letter to the Hebrews is an excellent inspiration.

For any person on this journey we call life, there is one place to find security, peace, and rest—Jesus is that place. Jesus. Seek Jesus beyond an intellectual viewpoint alone, stop, and find purpose in him for both your spiritual and everyday well-being. You will be refreshed and ready to travel along.