Rest...

There were two contenders for the allegiance of Mankind. A ballot was cast at the base of a garden tree. Blessed with health, carefree existence and uninhibited communion with their Creator, the first couple lived in Eden's paradise. Deceived and bewildered, our parents fell into sin. So ashamed were they when they realized they no longer wore robes of light and righteousness, they gathered fig leaves to cover themselves.

God came seeking them in the garden, but they were hiding, covered in garments of their own devising... but leaves dry out and crumble. God fashioned garments of skin and covered the first man and woman in His robes. This very act was a promise that He alone could cover their sin & nakedness.

The heart of God longed for the sweet fellowship He once had with His children. So desirous of this bond was He that a part of His heart was sent to earth. A Seed was planted among men in young Mary's womb. Jesus would suffer the heartache that we know, yet grow strong. God walked among us, in our shoes. He felt the sting of sadness, saw our woundedness and shame, but this did not deter His effort to befriend and heal us.

One day, Jesus and His followers had walked for miles and felt hunger pangs. Ahead of Him was a large Fig tree bearing lush foliage. For all appearances, it looked to be a good source of nourishment. However, when Christ drew near, He saw that it had absolutely no fruit to offer- just leaves on bare limbs. (He had seen this before- fig leaves covering nakedness.) Religious leaders of His time wore long, elegant robes and made public spectacles of themselves for all their good works. They lived for the applause of men. When people hungered to know God and sought these men for guidance, they were not given the Bread of Heaven, or Living Water. They were left empty and given a list of behaviors to follow instead. Jesus rebuked them, "Isaiah prophesied about you correctly saying, "With their lips do they serve Me, but their hearts are far from Me."

Christ came both to weave and to cover us in His Robe of Righteousness. Christ laid a curse upon the barren Fig tree. The Messiah went on to bear the punishment for every evil that has ever been done. Scripture says, "Through one man, Adam, sin entered and through one Man, Christ, sin was abolished." "He was pierced for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities. By His stripes we are healed."

For generations, the Seventh-Day Sabbath of the 10 Commandments was a day honored and kept in remembrance- it was a promise to man. It was a day of rest and fellowship with God and family. The rest was not only one of physical nature in ceasing labors, it was a day that pointed to a soon-coming Messiah, and spiritual rest. Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy, of God's Law and His promises! "What then was the purpose of the Law? It was added because of transgressions UNTIL the Seed to whom the promise referred had come..... Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the Law." Galations 3:19-25

And so the blessed promise was fulfilled. As Jesus hung dying on the Cross, a heart that refused to know hatred toward the most wretched offenders cried, "Father forgive them" and finally "It is finished." According to scripture, Jesus was put on the cross during the third hour- the time of day when the Jewish priests offered morning prayer and sacrifices. During the 6th hour, darkness covered the earth and Jesus cried out, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?" Then in the 9th hour, as the priests ritually prepared for the evening sacrifice, the heart of Jesus broke for us and He died. The work on our behalf was complete. Immediately, the veil separating the Holy & the Most Holy place was torn from top to bottom and the ministration of earthly priests and animal sacrifices was ended. The Old Covenant ratified by circumcision and the blood of animals was destroyed. A New and better Covenant began and this was signed and sealed by the blood of Christ the Lamb. God said, "I will write My Laws (will) upon your hearts and minds". It is not difficult to obey when the heart is filled with love. One has no desire to steal, murder, spread lies when love is present.

God's presence no longer dwells in a temple building. He chose to dwell in the most intimate place on this earth. The Most Holy Place of all is the heart & mind of man when God's Spirit enters. God dwelt among us before the cross, He now dwells IN us when we accept Jesus as our Savior. This is why scripture calls our bodies, "the temple of the Holy Spirit".

Obedient to fulfill the Law even unto death, Jesus was raised on the third day. He had conquered Satan's evil chokehold on us. Hope was restored. The Bible says that when Christ was raised, many holy men of God were also released from the grave- as the firstfruits of God's victory.

Jesus had once said, "I did not come to destroy the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill". This He did by living a perfect life. If it were possible for any Christian to be perfect through their own efforts, Christ's holy life on earth would not have been necessary. The same Jesus who said, "I have come to restore sight to the blind, to preach freedom to the captives and give rest to the weary" still offers the same comfort today.

Have we failed to see the merits of Christ because we are blinded by a focus on "being good"? Are you a captive of open sin, or a works-oriented experience? Are you weary of trying to cross all your 't's and dot all your 'i's in hopes that you may convince God to like you?? Come to Jesus as you are and He will embrace you. He is not shocked or disgusted by your sins or mine. He knows full well what fallen man is capable of, but there is forgiveness. See the Savior for ALL that He is. See that He is tender and merciful. "A bruised reed I will not break, a withering flame, I will not snuff out." We must accept not only His death on our behalf, but His life. He IS our Sabbath and our rest. Good News!!!