"So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of Yahweh. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as Yahweh did from His..." ~Hebrews 4:11
The Holy Book says that there is a rest that remains. What is this? It's something different than the Old Testament's Sabbath Day commandments. It's something that rendered the Old obsolete. It's a Rest that transcends practical judgement, because God wants to have our hearts (2 Cor. 5:16). Rest is a state of being that remains.
Why did God rest from His works? Because Jesus was telling the truth when He cried out on the cross: "IT IS FINISHED" (John 19:30). And If God is still resting, content with the fulfillment of His Redeeming plan, then we should follow His example and rest too!
"...Let us make every effort, therefore, to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience." ~Hebrews 4:12
Entering God's rest, truly, constantly and unconditionally keeping it, may take a lot of effort. It may take a lot of faith. But what are we, that we could have "a lot" of anything? What are we, that Yahweh is mindful of us (Psalms 8:4)? Remember that it's His Work that gets us there, and not our own. Apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5).
Our only work, our "every effort", should only be made concerning our belief. That's the work that God expects, demands from us. Are we really believing? Hopefully so --cause that's all that Yahshua wants (John 6:29). Everything else will flow out from that -- the rest is up to you. Faith + trust = Rest.
Now, I'm not contradicting my previous post on the Sabbath. The commandment has been good, and it continues to be good (Romans 7:12). Keeping a physical Sabbath may well just be an intermediate tool; a way to ensure that we are doing everything that day with intention and joy. It might serve as a wonderful stepping stone that helps you grasp the spiritual symbolism involved. The Sabbath provokes internal inspection...are we doing things out of obligation, or are we seeing our time as being redeemed by God? Don't be enslaved by your own business (Gal. 5:1). That's not God's best for you. I think observing a Sabbath that excludes any compulsive act (2 Cor. 9:7) is a great idea.
The next question is...On what day? Should you observe Saturday, Sunday, the Jewish lunar calendar, or the lunar-solar calendar? There are fringe groups out there who would claim that their approach to all this is the only way. Who cares? Paul called such topics "disputable matters" (Romans 14:1).
Like I said, there remains a Sabbath that transcends physicality. God wants you to be so thankful for every moment, that even the hardest work you do is still purely Rest. He wants you to pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17). He wants you to carry such a heavy awareness of Him that any of your own efforts are blotted out by His monumental Light.
It's OK to be blinded by love. Yahweh wants us to take our eyes off ourselves so we can enjoy Heavenly, blissful rest.
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