“Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord” (Exodus 16:23).

In 24 hours the average adult accomplishes much:

– his heart beats 103,689 times,

– his blood travels 168 million miles,

– he breathes 23,040 times,

– he inhales 438 cubic feet of air,

– he eats 3 1/2 pounds of food,

– he drinks 2.9 quarts of liquid,

– he speaks 4,800 words,

– he moves 750 muscles,

– his nails grow .000046 inch,

– and he exercises 7 million brain cells.

It’s no wonder we need rest!

When God established the laws governing the lives of the Israelite people- He built into their schedule a time for rest.

Physically it enabled their bodies to recuperate.

Spiritually it reminded them that their salvation was not complete.

They needed a spiritual “rest”-

– that would come only when the Messiah would take away their sins.

The writer of Hebrews makes it clear that even though the Jewish people practiced Sabbath-keeping, the real “rest” was a future event.

He declared, “For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God” (Heb 4:8-9).

In the New Testament the command to “remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy” is the only one of the Ten Commandments not repeated, and for a good reason.

The spiritual rest that the Old Testament saints looked forward to and which the Sabbath represented is now a reality.

Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28).

Taking a day to rest is still an important part of maintaining a healthy body.

But it’s a physical necessity, not a spiritual law.

Now we can rejoice in the true rest that comes in Christ.

Real rest is-

– in the Lord,

– not in the law.