You know what an oxymoron is, right?

Jumbo shrimp

Open secret

Deafening silence

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines words with opposing meanings. We use them all the time in casual conversation. Here are a few more.

Clearly confused

Pretty Ugly

Government efficiency

(just kidding on that last one)

The Bible’s a treasure trove of similar wordplays and paradoxes. A few weeks ago, one of our elders, Larry Fox shared one at our Wednesday night prayer group. I’ve been thinking about it a lot. See if you can spot it.

Hebrews 4:10-11 “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest.”

Make every effort to enter rest. Hmmmm…. That seems counterintuitive.  In what ways does it take effort to enter the rest that God offers? I can think of 3 ways.

Working to create space to hear from God.

The idea of working to find rest makes a lot of sense in our ever increasing, fast paced, high-octane world. Making every effort to enter rest means intentionally cultivating a spiritual discipline of seeking God’s presence daily. Like Jesus pulling away from ministry for precious time with his Father (Matthew 14:13) or Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus (Luke 10:38-42), it takes effort to break away from the 24/7 news cycle, put down the phone and set aside the continuous crush of work, home and family responsibilities to actually find rest and spiritual refreshment in the presence of Jesus. Making every effort to enter rest is about choosing the better thing, prioritizing our relationship with Jesus over the busyness of life. If you feel frazzled and burnt out, are you willing to work to find rest?

Working to rest in God’s sovereign control.

But there’s another level of rest that’s available to Christians and we sure need it!  We live in a world of increasing chaos and disorder- war, political divisions, hostility, moral decay, financial instability, environmental disasters.  On one level, this shouldn’t surprise us. Jesus told us that this world would unravel as we approach the end of the age (Matthew 24:1-14). But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to live through it!  The distractions, anxieties, and troubles of this world that threaten to overwhelm us can become barriers to experiencing God’s rest. Like Peter walking on the water to meet Jesus, it’s so easy to allow the winds and waves to erode our faith, attention and dependence on God.  It takes effort to silence the noise, set aside the worries, and focus on the One who promises to provide, protect, and guide us. Are you feeling unsettled, anxious or dejected. Rest is available.  Are you willing to fight for it?

Working to rest in the finished work of the cross.

Experiencing God’s rest is more than taking a break to hear from God or peace in the midst of trouble. On the deepest level, entering rest is a reorientation of our life around the sufficiency of the cross.  The finished work of Jesus allows us to cease from striving for God’s acceptance and to rest in his abundant grace.  Entering rest means coming to understanding that Jesus’ righteousness has been applied to me.  I am all that God says I am… holy, loved, chosen, forgiven, restored and remade. I am not judged by my performance but by my privileged position as a child of God.  God is a good Father who truly delights in his children (Psalm 149:4) and I can rest in Jesus because “it is well with my soul.” To me, this is the most precious rest of all, resting in the undeserved, unending favor of God (Psalm 5:12).  It’s so much easier to delight in God when we know He delights in us. Are you resting in your true identity?

Of course, one day, we will enter God’s ultimate rest in heaven, enjoying eternal life with God forever.  And when we see Jesus, “we will be like him for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:3).   But true rest is available now… but you might have to work for it.