Reference: Matthew 11:28-30, Hebrews 3:18-19, and Hebrews4:1,2,9,10,11
When Jesus made the statement of sayingcome unto him and he would give us rest, he was actually saying that he wouldgive us ease or relief from distress, annoyance, etc. Now Jesus was not talkingto someone who was doing some kind of manual labour such as digging a ditch orsome other strenuous labour, but rather he was referring to the burden of sinthat controls everybody born into this world from the womb of their mother. Nowthe word of God tells us that Moses chose to suffer the afflictions with thepeople of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Sin is ofcourse pleasurable to the flesh for a while, but soon it will take it's tolland begin to become grievous.
A life of sin will never give a persontrue peace and satisfaction. Sin will destroy anybody if it is chosen by anindividual to be the sole purpose in their life. A life of sin is a life thatsatisfies the lusts and desires of the body of flesh, but it absolutely willdestroy a person bodily, soul, and spirit if Christ is rejected in your life.This is why Jesus said to come unto him and he would give us rest.
Christ is the only one that can free usfrom the power of sin in our life that will eventually destroy us completely. Iam quite sure that many people are aware of the effects of sin in our societyof everyday living. We can see its drastic effects on the youth of today and alsoon the adults. Sin is the cause of all of the low moral conduct that this worldis so full of. Young people today has been led to think and believe that drugsand other fleshly satisfying appetizers is the only way to live, but looking atthe outcome of all these different thoughts and ideas will very quickly let youknow that they are leading millions to swift destruction.
Yes, Jesus knew what he was talking aboutwhen he said come unto him and he would give the rest that so many are wantingand seeking for, but sad to say Christ is being rejected and Satan isforevermore coming up with things that binds man more tighter in his sin. Weare living in a day where millions of people are confessing to be a born againchild of God, but yet we see evil and unrest on the rise everywhere. Theaverage church today is so worldly that you can't tell the difference betweenit and the rest of the world. The world in general is seeking for peace, butthe type of peace it is searching for is not only peace between its allies, butrather the world today is in a drastic serch for true peace and happiness thatinvolves the heart and mind. Today we have hundreds of so-called men of greatknowledge and understanding, but yet we see the world filled with turmoil onevery hand.
Man simply cannot cope with today'sproblems and perplexities. They are forevermore coming up with ideas aboutsolving the many problems, but it seems that the situation gets worse insteadof improving. Man simply will not admit to the fact that they are totally voidof the things of God. The entire world today confesses some sort of a religiousbelief in God in some form or another, but yet we see that the world'scondition grows worse and worse.
The word of God plainly reveals the factthat this world will end up in a very demoralized condition, but nobody willadmit the fact that they are void of the truth that will set the sinner freeand give him perfect peace and contentment. Millions of people may understandwhat it means to lack the perfect rest that Christ offers, but from the looksand condition of the world today it's plain to see that very few people knowsand understands what the true rest is that God gives.
If you will note in our text at thebeginning of this tract, you will find God's word saying that as God enteredinto his rest and ceased from all his works, we too can enter into the restthat Christ has to offer and we too will cease from our own works also. TheBible tells us that God done all his creating within six days and that herested on the seventh day. This seventh day was set apart and sanctified byGod, because he rested on this day from all his works.
Now we know that this work of God was nota type of work that caused him to get tired and weary, but was rather a workperformed by him that brought all things into existence. When God was throughwith his work he entered into a rest from all of his creating. God rested froma work of creation, but we rest from our natural life of sin. A life of sin isthe natural work of every man born into this world from their mother's womb.This type of labour is very wearisome to the entire man consisting of body,soul, and spirit. This type of a life will eventually destroy man completely.This is what happened to man when he fell into sin in the garden of Eden.
Sin will make your life miserable here onthis earth and will cause you to be destroyed in the lake of fire, which istermed as being the second death. The first death is the death of the body andthe second death is the death and destruction of the whole man. It is not God'swill that any should perish, but for all to come to repentance and theacknowledgement of the truth.
God has provided a way that man can escapefrom the punishment of the second death. It is appointed to all men to die aphysical death, but nobody has to suffer the second death "if"they accept the provided way of redemption through the blood of Christ Jesus.The way of redemption is revealed within the gospel, but Satan has forevermorecaused man to reject or to be deceived from the truth of this providedredeeming plan of salvation revealed in the gospel of Christ.
The revealed truth of the gospel will leadman from a life of sin and spiritually transform him into the kingdom of God'sdear Son. The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom where a man can spirituallyenter into and in this spiritual kingdom there is perfect rest and contentmentfor the soul of man.
A sinner is forevermore striving tosatisfy his fleshly lusts and desires that will only lead to heartaches anddisappointment. A life of sin is a constant struggle of satisfying the fleshlyappetite that will never satisfy the soul. The Lord Jesus Christ is the onlyone who can lead man to perfect peace and contentment. A man can be at easebecause he no longer lives to the satisfying of his fleshly desires, but ratherhe now lives a life manifesting the Spirit's fruit........