Isn’t the Christian life supposed to make our load lighter?
Aug 2, 2010
The Base for Grace - part eight in a study of the book of Hebrews
Mike Gaudet
Jesus said that His “yoke is easy and his burden is light.” Apparently, the Christian life is supposed to make our load lighter.
If it’s making our burden heavier, what are we doing wrong?
“Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Now we who have believed enter that rest.” Hebrews 4:1-3
God wants for us to experience “rest.”
This sounds good, doesn’t it? Whether it comes in the form of crawling into bed after a long day or taking time off from work, we like “rest.”
Strangely enough, God has a hard time giving rest away. Even though “the promise of entering his rest still stands,” there is the real possibility that we could “be found to have fallen short of it.”
What prevents us from receiving the rest God offers to us?
Filters.
A filter changes the light that hits our eye. Sometimes filters are helpful. Take sunglasses for instance. They screen out rays that harm our eyes. Sometimes filters are harmful. Filters can distort our image of God.
Filters cause us to believe that God burdens us.
The Pharisees claimed to speak for God in Jesus’ day. When they looked at God, they filtered out God’s compassion. They believed God placed heavy obligations on humans and rewarded those who managed the heaviest load. They reflected this filtered view of God onto others. Jesus had this to say about their influence: “They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.” Matthew 23:4
Jesus’ reflected an “unfiltered” image of God’s desires. He offered a restful alternative to the “heavy loads” the Pharisees were placing on people. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Rest is relief from having to bear a heavy burden. When God offers rest to us, He offers to take something from us . . . something that is heavy . . . something that makes us weary. The result of having this burden removed is called “rest. “
Filters also cause us to believe that God abandons us.
God promised to give the Israelites rest in the Promised Land. Sadly “the message they heard was of no value to them.” They failed to experience the rest God promised. Why? Because “those who heard did not combine it with faith.” They could not believe that God wanted good things for them.
God promised that He would never abandon the Israelites. It was easy for them to believe this promise when the Red Sea was parting and miracles were flowing. It was hard for them to believe when their stomachs were empty and hostile forces surrounded them. Their needs filtered out God’s promises. We have a hard time believing God when what He says conflicts with what we see.
Little has changed. Our unmet needs and unfulfilled desires still act as filters. When our budget is tight and we don’t have what we want, we assume that God has forsaken us. When we struggle with sinful habits, we assume that God will forsake us.
How can we find rest when? The conditions for entering God’s rest remain the same. “Now we who have believed enter that rest.” We enter God’s rest as we believe God’s good promises to us.
God invites you to enter into His rest.
As your faith in God’s promises increases, you will find that your burden decreases.
You will “find rest for your souls.”