A Place of Rest

A Place of Rest
Psalm 107:10-16; Jeremiah 49:17-38; Hebrews 3:16-4:5

We have been given a great promise that began in creation and has been fulfilled in Christ. Our Lord God promises us a place of rest that we may join Him in when we leave this mortal coil. Paradise is the promise that we can look forward to as our resting place. Luke 23:39-43 recounts the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ and the two criminals crucified on each side of Him. One mocks Jesus asking Him to prove that He is the messiah, but the other knowing his own guilt speaks out on Jesus’ innocence and asks to be remembered by Jesus within His kingdom. We find the promise given to him that this thief would enter paradise with Jesus Christ.
The promise comes with belief in the one who fulfills the promise our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only one that can fulfill this promise. The problem is that just as throughout the history of God’s people – Israel – throughout history have not trusted in the promise of rest, the promise of paradise with our Creator, the one and only God – Yahweh – who has been with us triune for all time. We need only to trust in that promise or we will be lost like the thief that chose to mock Jesus. That thief found the hopelessness in his own pride and received no promise of rest, but eternal suffering and pain.
We need only to commit our hearts and our minds to our Lord and Savior revealed to us by the power of the Holy Spirit, bringing us salvation in sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and known in the love of the Father. God made the greatest covenant with Abraham to be a blessing to all nations which He fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Thank you Lord may our hearts always be turned to You, may we received Your grace. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and glory forever. Amen.