Hebrews 4:9-11 (NKJV): There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest...
The word 'rest' in this statement 'Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest' is 'katapausis' in Greek, and it literally means 'to settle down'. This 'rest' speaks of your heart 'being settled down' even in the midst of all the chaos in the world. Also, you don't have to get so hard up trying to work things out, because the Lord has done it for you!
Let Scripture interpret Scripture now. In Exodus 33:14, the Scripture says, 'The Lord said to Moses, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."' At that point of his life, Moses found himself in a rather challenging time of having to lead 'a stiff-necked people', and he wanted to know what was he to do next. The word 'rest' in this passage is 'nuwach' in Hebrew, meaning 'being made to rest, being quiet, being comforted, to settle down'. Interestingly, the name 'Noah' comes from this same word 'nuwach', and you can imagine Noah 'being settled down' in the ark during the stormy Great Flood!
From all the above explanations, you'd see that 'true rest' is possible even in the midst of stress, tension, turmoil, turbulence, conflict, or storms in this world. And we are not talking about resting "from" activities here, but rather, resting "in the midst" of activities. So, this 'rest' has nothing to do with being lazy or running away from responsibility. Instead, it is an inner peace that comes from the Lord, and for those who put their trust in the Lord!
Notice Jesus was never 'panicky' when faced with even the fiercest resistance and opposition on earth. He was never 'ruffled' or anxious, no matter what. And He was never caught off-guard even when the trickiest questions were thrown at Him by the Pharisees. Indeed, He had successfully handled all these with such calm and composure! Why? Because He is the Yahweh Shalom, the Lord who is Peace.
In Matthew 8:23-26, the Scripture says, 'Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with His disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke Him up, shouting, "Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!"... Then He got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm'. See? He is shalom peace manifested. The shalom peace and rest inside Him was then released into the earthly (physical) realm, and even the storm, the wind, and the waves had to obey!
People of God, do you want the same inner peace and rest in your life? It is not impossible, because as Jesus is, so should you be in this world! Your part is to allow Him to fill you with His shalom peace, even now.
And it is in this shalom peace of the Lord that the enemy cannot touch you! 1 John 5:18 (NLT) says, 'We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them'. What a promise! Notice the statement 'God's Son (that's Jesus, of course) holds them securely'. In other words, you are deeply and firmly secured in Christ, the One who covers you and protects you! (Psalm 91:1-4)
By the way, the word 'touch' here is 'haptomai' in Greek, and it can mean:
- to set fire (i.e. to deliberately cause something to burn);
- to drive a wedge (i.e. to cause a fight or trouble).
Indeed, nothing on earth can 'burn' you, or 'drive a wedge' in your life, because the Lord who is in you is greater than he that is in this world! (1 John 4:4) Believe and receive all these promises of God for you, and declare that nothing shall by any means hurt you (Luke 10:19). In Jesus' name. Amen!
