What a Rest

As several of my grandchildren have outgrown nap-time, their parents still plan an afternoon rest-time ... a brief period of still and quiet. For Mister Bill and I (PopC and MomC), however, rest time is much more serious! God tells us "so there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God" (Hebrews 4:9, NASB). True children of God - those delivered by God's free gift of salvation - have this grand-and-glorious promise in our future. Our bodies ever-long for true rest from disease, weariness, sorrow, pain, sadness, burdens, discouragement, stress, etc. - all pressing us with intensity for a respite ... for rest. Octavius Winslow writes, "Everything in our present course reminds us that we are nearing home." Like you, many of my dearest ones have already seized the promised prize of Heavenly rest. While we take comfort in knowing they are "at rest" and even with eagerness we long to be be re-united with them, consider this: "Death, from which I have so often recoiled, is but the triumphal arch - oh, how bright a risen Christ has made it!" (Winslow). As hymn writer Esther K Rusthoi wrote: "It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus - Earth's trials will seem so small, when we see Christ - One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrows will erase - So bravely run the race, till we see Christ" (1941). Oh, indeed, what a rest that will be!