Day 19: The Gift…Rest

Read: Revelation 22:1-5

Now for those of you who really know me, you know how much I love to sleep. I’m that early to bed, 10 hours a night, and a nap in between girl. Go ahead, you can judge me. I used to feel guilty about my need for so much sleep until I read of Winston Churchill’s similar need. I’m apparently in good company. Nonetheless, I digress. Whenever I read that there will be no night in heaven, I found myself unsure of this as a good thing. That’s my favorite time every day.

So I needed to delve a little deeper to figure out how this is heavenly. My discoveries are, in fact, blessings we can surely anticipate:

  1. We won’t need to sleep in heaven. Our bodies will no longer be cursed and require restorative sleep.
  2. For many, night represents darkness and the time much evil is perpetrated. In this regard, there will be no night. No need to fear. Ever. Again.
  3. The presence of God is our true source of health, happiness, and rest. We will literally live it 24/7.
  4. My work in heaven will be enjoyable and pleasurable rather than depleting, tiring, and exhausting.

Hebrews 4 gives us a glimpse into God’s rest. For the believer, we have already entered into God’s rest. The word “rest” in this passage is “katapausis.” It means “abode.” Our heavenly abode is rest. The whole thing. Rest!

There will be no more striving, sweating, fighting to succeed, no more pressure. Will we work? Yes. And it will be restful! That, my friend, sounds delightful!

Challenge: Hebrews 4 is actually a warning for us to not harden our hearts and miss out on God’s rest. Be certain today that Jesus is your Lord and Savior. Enter into His rest.

Prayer: O Lord, thank you for times of earthly rest this side of glory and thank you for the hope of my heavenly abode to come! Seems made just for me!