REFLECTIONS AFTER EASTER

Time marches on relentlessly, and so do we all. Since creation was set into motion there followed the promise, that ‘day and night, summer and winter will not cease again’. And it has not ever, to this very day! And so the Easter celebration arrived, a couple of weeks ago now, but the reality of it is still fresh in my mind. A question which arose in my mind was: ‘what is the aftermath of it all’? Did it leave me with some precious thoughts emanating from it? As believing Christians, I suggest it ought to, in some way or another. My mind was drawn back to the time when as a kid of aprox. 6 or 7 years, I was allowed to stay with my uncle and auntie, at the other end of the town. (They lived a quiet life, till their home later was hit by a stray bomb during the war, which severely damaged their home and killed all their dairy cows in a stall sheltering from winter conditions. But the people escaped unhurt, - a miracle!)

There were children in that family, and on a rainy day we were allowed to play in their front room, where it was cosy and comfortable. Of course, my eyes would wander and observe different things and objects we did not have at our home. It was then that my eyes fixed on a wall-text on black silk, superembossed with silvery letters (Hebrews 4 vs. 9): ‘There remains therefore a Rest to the people of God’ and it gripped me, and my eyes would wander again and again to that text. But I was too young to understand what and where that Rest might be.

At some stage, my uncle and auntie and family moved away, I was conscripted into the army, but came home on occasions. I would go and look through a window of the now empty house for that text high up on the wall, as if it had some magical quality By this time of course, I had my personal Bible, and that particular text is highlighted, and so many years later it still is marked. There is some wonderful reading in that chapter. Now I can understand what it is all about, namely in a pre-figured way, the people of Israel being delivered out of the land of slavery (Egypt) were directed on the way by the Lord, across huge deserts. It probably took them one year to reach Kadesh Barnea, outside the Promised land, Canaan (The Land of Rest so-called) that was now close by. For security Moses their leader send out 12 spies to observe this new territory. Ten of them came back with negative stories, only Joshua and Caleb had positive reports. “God has promised us the victory in the Promised Land, let’s go!” But the people on the whole rebelled, and so they were turned back again into the wilderness for some 38 years more, which gave them severe challenges!

Finally they arrived again at the borders from a different direction, by which time Joshua had become their leader, and he was able to lead them safely across the river Jordan into ‘Canaan of Rest’ so called. But of course they had to fight many battles, and there was little rest for a long time. And now we come to our text concerning the ‘Rest which remains for the people of God!’ What or where is that Rest to be found? We need to remember Christ’s words to His disciples, and to every believing Christian in the gospel of John chapter 14 vs. 3: “And when I go, I will prepare a place for you. I will come again and take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.” That then, I suggest, is the place of Rest referred to. Yet another question arises: ‘Does that then mean that we as believers (in glory) are going to be motionless and inactive? The Bible does not indicate that at all! Since there is no night there, our minds will be on Christ our Saviour full-time, where the ‘wounds of the Cross’ will always be visible as a reminder of the cost of our salvation. This in turn will bring continuous praise and thanksgiving to Him with the words: Rev.5 vs 9:’ You have redeemed us out of all generations, languages and peoples with the price of your blood!’ And that will be their continuous theme! Why is ‘therefore’ included in that text? Of necessity that so called ‘Rest’ followed when Christ had done all that was required to secure such a Rest in Heaven for everyone who puts their trust in Jesus for time and for eternity!

Last Sunday we celebrated the Lords Supper (Communion) at our Fellowship. Those truths were highlighted again in my mind, as an aftermath after Easter - and I was blessed by it! ‘There remains therefore a Rest, to the people of God!’