Genesis 2:1-3
¹Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.²And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.³And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
He rested from all his work but what was this work ? As described in Genesis 1, the earth was enveloped in darkness, a state of chaos and disorder—formless and void. He had to perfect everything. He had to bring in ‘the light’ where there was darkness, fill the void with things. If you can put it in one word, He had to bring perfection to creation.
“And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. “
Mark 2:27-28 KJV.
And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
The Sabbath started even before the law was given for the sake of man : God initiated it and everything he made he saw it was good, no good could be added to His work of perfection.
Hebrews 4:10
For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
It’s rest from the burden of trying to earn salvation through works, when we enter His rest we stop trying to earn salvation through our own works, God rested not because He was tired for He never gets weary or faint ( Isaiah 40:28) but because He had completed or perfected everything. In the same manner Christ completed the Work of salvation, the yoke, He made easier to carry, where the law seemed burdensome, He made it light and easier to bear and thus says:
Matthew 11:28-29
²⁸”Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
Therefore the sabbath is not just a day but the person of Christ in whom we find complete perfection because in Christ, we find rest of our soul not body. That which was filled with darkness and disorder and sin He makes perfect. So in Christ, I ceased to work for righteousness, or I ceased to work for perfection, but I’ve found my perfection in Christ for this is a finished work. I do not strive became because He is.
1 Corinthians 1:30
“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”
You’ve rested in Christ, You’re not working anymore for righteousness. So all you need to do is to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, walk in the word of God. He has relieved us from sin, secured us by His grace and given us freedom from death’s grip. In Him we are have life.
Prophetic Utterance:
I am Gods seal of creation,
In Christ I find perfection, in restoration.
I life the life of God for His light is in me.
I am preferred above all, the election by Grace is my portion.
I have the life of God in me.
Guiding Text:
Exodus 31:16-17
¹⁶Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.¹⁷It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.”