Rod McNair

[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

Facing the Inevitable

Imagine the scene; family and friends gathered together. Beautiful flowers adorn the coffin, as well-wishers file in. Words of encouragement are given and tears flow. At the funeral of a loved one, there is often deep sorrow, especially when the deceased is someone cut off early in life—a child, or a young person, with so much promise of life and vibrancy, now gone. Or the loss of a devoted husband or wife. A companion for decades perhaps. And now, the survivor must carry on alone.

How do you approach the death of a loved one? If you’ve faced it, you know how it feels. When a loved one dies, we grieve, we mourn, we have a hole in our heart. It’s difficult and it hurts. And sometimes the pain lasts for years. And we may ask: If God is good and all-powerful, why am I suffering so much?

There is a way to face death with boldness, courage, and hope. God’s word assures that, and gives us practical and timeless advice.

How can you be prepared when death strikes someone close to you?

Death and the Resurrection, According to the Bible

Welcome to Tomorrow’s World, where we help you make sense of your world through the pages of the Bible. Not long ago, a dear friend of mine and colleague in this Work died. I was asked to say a few words at his funeral. I’ve always found it challenging but profoundly rewarding to speak on behalf of someone who dies. Life is a precious gift. And, especially if one has lived a long and full life, there are so many things to say. His or her life is like a diamond that sparkles as you turn it. You see experiences, traits, qualities of strength, and yes, even a few weaknesses. It’s the sum of their life. How do you encapsulate it in just a few minutes? And yet what an honor it is to speak on behalf of a beloved friend or loved one at a time like this.

When a loved one dies, we grieve. And many struggle with how to get through. Especially in these times of grievous diseases, how do we cope? In this episode of Tomorrow’s World, we’ll talk about three ways to face death with courage and faith.

If you are a regular viewer, you know that at Tomorrow’s World we hold to the Bible as the Truth, the word of God. It has the answers to the big questions of life. And so, when we talk about death and grieving, and how to cope, the absolute first key is:

1. Look to the Bible for answers and comfort.

I know most of you don’t have to be convinced to read your Bible, especially when you’re down and struggling. Many of you hold the Bible in high esteem. But some of you watching may not yet be sure about the Bible. You may have heard it’s just a collection of myths and legends, writings of men. Your understanding of the Bible may only be what others have told you about it. Maybe your views have been formed by your friends or coworkers, or even the popular media. If so, you most likely have misconceptions about what it really says. When it comes to matters of life and death, the Bible’s the only book that even claims to have the real answers.

Give it a second chance. Consider what I’m saying. And when you’re in tough times, remember—the Bible has answers.

There was a man named Job who lived many thousands of years ago. Job was tried severely in his life. He lost loved ones, tragically, sons and daughters, in one day. He struggled to understand and even blamed God for his troubles, at one point. It shook his faith to the foundations. But at the end of the day, he put his trust in God and the hope of the resurrection. In Job 14:14, he said this:

“If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes. You shall call, and I will answer You; You shall desire the work of Your hands” (Job 14:14-15).

Job believed in the resurrection from the dead. He believed that after death, the dead will rise. God will call and they'll answer him. And you can read from one end of the Bible to the other, and you’ll find the affirmation of life after death. This life is not the end. Death is not permanent.

When Jesus was on this earth, He was God in the flesh. What did He say about life and death? Notice in John chapter 5 and verse 28:

“Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28-29).

Jesus said, there is life after death. The dead will rise. There’s something yet in the future. These are the words of the Son of God Himself. And He can tell us definitely, because He Himself rose from the dead.

Paul speaks of the resurrection of Jesus Christ in 1 Corinthians chapter 15. In fact, the whole chapter is about the resurrection. Notice what Paul said in verse 12:

“Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” (1 Corinthians 15:12).

You see, it’s nothing new that some don’t believe in the resurrection. In every age, there have been those who doubted. And yet Paul explained that the resurrection of Jesus Christ was witnessed by hundreds of people. And many of them were still alive when he wrote this. Going on in 1 Corinthians chapter 15,

“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that he was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:3-6).

Now think about this for a moment. Paul was saying that there were at least a couple hundred brethren, at the time of this writing, who had seen the risen Christ and were still around to tell about it. If you’re not sure whether you can believe the Bible, consider this testimony. If this wasn’t true, would Paul have dared make this bold assertion? If Jesus Christ really hadn’t been resurrected, why would Paul stake his reputation on it? And why would Paul give His life for it, as well as the other apostles?

So, what’s the point? When we look at the Bible, we’re given an understanding that there's something coming after death. The Bible is unique in offering this hope. It’s special in that it gives us a glimpse of what happens after death. Only the Bible can give that kind of comfort. And when we lose a husband, a wife, a child, or a close friend, we can turn to the Bible for encouragement. In fact, we must turn to the Bible for comfort, for where else can we get real answers?

The Bible gives the answers to the important questions of life and death.

Coping With Death and Loss Together

When a loved one dies, we grieve and we’re sad. Our heart is broken and we feel a profound emptiness. Some feel guilt for surviving while their mate dies. Others feel stuck, like they’ll never get over the loss. But how do we cope with death? In the first segment of this program we saw that it’s vital we look to the Bible for answers and hope. But there’s more. The second key is:

2. Reach out to others who care and who can help.

When a loved one dies, there is a tendency to retreat within ourselves. We may feel like isolating ourselves and pulling away from others. But is that healthy?

In the Western world, we have traditions and ceremonies to honor the dead and comfort the living. Family and friends gather to lend support and encouragement. Eulogies about the deceased are often given. We are saddened by the occasion and may shed a tear. But on the other hand, hearing about the life and accomplishments and even a humorous anecdote or two about our loved one, is healing and therapeutic.

I’m always touched when attending a funeral and learning more deeply about another person’s life. It’s profound to hear what a son or granddaughter or other relative relates about what was important to their loved one. Those memories are precious. They are especially profound when shared by someone who knew the person well. And they should be shared. Though the process is a bit painful, we all benefit by hearing the stories of a child of God who’s finished his or her race.

Too many people want to hide their eyes from mourning and sorrow. And in doing this, they often pull away from individuals in their life who can help them the most. Being surrounded by people who love us is vital to working through the grieving process. When death occurs, we need to accept the efforts of others to comfort us. They may not always know what to say. There may be awkward moments. But they’re trying to help—and it’s good to accept that help.

Many people today are alone and lonely. The pandemic has made isolation more acute and more painful. And as human beings, we need one another. And that is true especially during times of distress and loss.

The gospels record that Jesus wept when His friend died. Let’s look at that in John chapter 11 and verse 33:

“Therefore, when Jesus saw her [that is, Mary] weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the Spirit and was troubled. And He said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to Him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept” (John 11:33-35).

This wasn’t a show. He wasn’t making believe. Jesus cared deeply for His friend. But He wasn’t just weeping for Lazarus. He was mourning for everyone, for He saw the suffering and distress they all had.

In this instance, Jesus actually brought back Lazarus to life. Now, He didn’t do that every time someone died. But here there was a specific purpose He was working out. The point is, this Scripture shows He cared for people and had compassion for them. When others are hurting, we need to reach out to them as well.

Young people suffer loss and pain, too. Sometimes as adults, we can forget that children and teens experience distress when they see a grandparent or other relative dying. They might be confused about what’s happening, especially if they are small. And they might even be confused by their own emotions. They may not even show emotion. They may act out in certain ways, and misbehave. There are numerous websites that give advice on helping young people grieve. Here are a few suggestions one website gives to teens, called KidsHealth.org, for those who have suffered loss:

1. Express Feelings and Find Support

If you are a young person and watching this program, and you have suffered loss, don't be afraid to reach out to others who care. Be strong, you can get through this. Stay engaged, and reach out to your parents, and teachers, and other adults you trust.

Another suggestion for teens suffering loss is:

2. Find Meaning

We touched on this in the first part of our program. Oftentimes, times of sorrow and suffering cause us to ask the big questions of life: Why am I here? What’s it all about? Don’t shy away from these questions. Searching for answers is healing in itself.

And here’s a final tip on the website:

3. Take Care of Yourself

It’s easy to let down on the things that keep us strong and healthy. We might lose sleep. We might lose interest in exercising. We might be less careful about what we eat. But taking care of yourself physically is actually vital in working through a time of grief.

The Key to Facing Death? Knowing God’s True Purpose for Life!

What’s another key to handling death in a positive and hopeful way?

3. Seek for the purpose of life.

You see, to understand death, you first have to understand life. Why are you here? What does your life mean? Are the evolutionists right? Are you just the result of billions of proteins that just happened to be zapped by a lightning bolt and mashed together in a random way that all works together harmoniously and perfectly? No, the truth is, we are the children of God. We’ve been made in God's image.

In Genesis chapter one we find a brief history of the origin of mankind. I’ll read in verse 26:

“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…. So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:26-27).

Do you realize what that means? It means you look like God. Now, understand, in His glorified state, He’d be brighter than the sun to us. We could not see Him and live. But if we could look at Him in the spiritual realm, we would see Someone Who looks like us because we look like Him.

Now how can we know for sure? Notice in Genesis chapter 5 verse 3:

“And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth” (Genesis 5:3).

It’s the same phrase—made in his own likeness, after his image—that Genesis 1 said about God making mankind. Now, we have no problem understanding that Seth was a human being and looked like his father Adam, and his mother, Eve. So, why is it such a stretch to believe that we were made in the image of God? That we, if we could see God, would see that we look like Him?

Think about this. It means we are on a totally different plane than the animals. We were made to have a connection with God. And that connection with God gives us a destiny so much greater than the animals. There is a purpose to this life. This life is a time to grow in character—God’s character. We are here to come to understand God and His purpose and turn our hearts to Him. And ultimately, He is giving us the chance to live with Him, in the spirit realm, in His family forever. Notice 1 John chapter 3, verse 1:

“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:1-2).

We shall be like Him, and we shall see Him as He is. That’s the purpose of life. The purpose of life is not to be extinguished, snuffed out forever, or drift off into nothingness. The purpose of life is to prepare for eternal life. Notice verse 3:

“And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3).

So, we don’t just live our lives aimlessly, with no regard for tomorrow. We live for Christ, to be conformed to His character. And if we do that, and accept His sacrifice for our sins, and humbly ask Him to guide our lives, we’ll live forever. What an opportunity. Notice in Hebrews 2:6:

“But one testified in a certain place, saying: ‘What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You take care of him?”

Truly, why does God even notice us or care about us? We’re so insignificant compared to the enormous size of this planet, much less the size of the solar system or the Universe. And yet, God has created us for a purpose. Going on,

“You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, and set him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet.’ For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him” (Hebrews 2:7-8).

We don’t yet have “all things” put under our feet, as Paul goes on to explain. Because right now we’re only in the physical flesh. But when we enter life—real life, eternal life—we’ll receive our inheritance. And what does that mean?

Let me read from the booklet we’re offering today, What Happens When You Die? On page 33, Mr. Ames writes:

“‘Nothing’ not put under him? ‘All’ in subjection? Yes, this is the promise! The Greek phrase translated as ‘all’ in Hebrews 2:8 is ta panta – which literally means ‘the all.’ As Greek lexicons explain, ta panta in the absolute sense means ‘the universe.’ God wants to give you, along with billions of others, dominion not just over the earth, but over the universe!”

When you suffer the pain of loss and death from those close to you, don’t despair. There is hope. There is a future. Our whole life has been built around a plan that God is working out. The human family is a miracle. The fact that we can survive on this planet is astounding, when you realize how finely tuned our world must be to support life.

We’re not here by an accident. We’re here for a purpose, and that purpose gives us hope. Paul explains this in 1 Thessalonians 4.

“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

This world is filled with philosophies and ideas [that] give no hope. What is there to hope for, if you believe that at death that’s it? Or, if you’re so terrified of the afterlife because of popular concepts [that] have no basis in reality?

Overcoming the Grave

But there is a way to face the death of a loved one with courage, faith and hope. And our Father in Heaven wants to give us comfort when we face these troubles in life. He comforts us, and He wants us to learn to comfort others. Notice in 2 Corinthians 1:3:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

The world is full of pain. But there is a purpose for suffering, and death is not the end. There’s much more to the plan. And as we look to God and walk with Him, and allow Him to guide our life, we’re going to understand that plan more and more. And we’ll be able to help others along their journey as well.

Thanks for watching! Remember to subscribe so you don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video, and if you would like a copy of our free booklet What Happens When You Die?, go to TWTV.org/Death or click the link in the description. See you next time.

[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

Suffering Without Rest

Do you need a break? Are you feeling stressed, worn out, and overwhelmed? Let’s face it; we’re living in a world filled with ever-increasing demands on our time and attention. Children need to be fed, clothes washed, and bills paid. Commuting is stressful. And there’s on-the-job pressure, deadlines, and conflict. Many are working harder than ever, only to find it more difficult to make ends meet. And when they try to unwind, escapism often leads to addictions, anxiety, and more conflict. Our relationships suffer. Our health suffers. Real solutions seem beyond our reach.

If you’re suffering from the anxiety of living in the modern world, you’re not alone. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 18.1% of the population 18 or older suffers from some type of anxiety disorder every year. That’s 40 million adults (“Facts and Statistics,” ADAA.org, accessed June 29, 2021).

But it’s not just in America. According to the “Our World In Data” website, “Globally an estimated 284 million people experienced an anxiety disorder in 2017” (“Mental Health,” OurWorldInData.org, April, 2018).

Clearly, many of us are feeling overwhelmed.

Is this how our Creator designed our life to be? If we’re anxious and depressed, how can we get out of that discouraging and even dangerous cycle?

There is an answer. And people around the world are discovering it. Would you like to know a secret that can turn your life around?

There is a way to find peace in a troubled world. And today on Tomorrow’s World, we’re going to dive into that topic, to find the source of that peace.

Do You Need Rest Days?

Welcome to Tomorrow’s World, where we help you make sense of your world through the pages of the Bible. Many of us today are exhausted and overwhelmed. We need a break. But where can you find the real solution to the frenetic lifestyle of our world? Let’s talk about that today.

In a recent online article, speaker and writer Jim Burns asked the following questions:

Have you stopped enjoying life because you are too busy?

Are you exhausted most of the time?

Have you stopped developing new relationships?

Are your children showing signs of stress?

Mr. Burns then added, “If you answered ‘yes’ to most of these questions, you are experiencing overload” (“Are You Experiencing the Overload Syndrome?” HomeWord.com, June 21, 2021).

Does that describe your life right now? It does for many of us. But more and more people are turning to what might seem to be an unlikely solution. They are turning to the idea of a “sabbath.”

Do an Internet search and you’ll find out what I mean. Type in “Sabbath rest” or “Sabbath lifestyle” and you’ll discover pages of articles with advice for gaining peace and perspective, through this idea of “sabbath.” Here are some of the article titles I found in one Internet search:

“The gift of sabbath rest in an anxious age”

“How to Unleash the Power of Sabbath-Rest in your Life”

“Creating a Sabbath Lifestyle”

“How to Create a Sabbath-Simplicity Lifestyle”

And…

“The Case for the Sabbath, Even if You’re Not Religious”

What all these articles have in common are a deep yearning to pause from the busyness of the modern world. More and more people are finding this idea of a sabbath intriguing.

Once again, writer and speaker Jim Burns puts it this way:

“In the beautiful Hebrew language, the word for rest is sabbath. Sabbath is more of a lifestyle choice than taking a nap or a day off to get some things done around the house. Sabbath living is the constant choice to live with margin in our lives. Margin is the space between our load and our limits. Margin is our mental, emotional, and spiritual strength. It’s our reserves, our breathing room, our energy, our vitality. Unfortunately, few of us have much margin in our lives” (“Are You Experiencing the Overload Syndrome?” HomeWord.com, June 21, 2021).

This concept of “margin” is powerful, and very important. We do need “margin” in our lives. It’s the so-called white space on the edge of the pages of our lives. It means that not every moment is busy and accounted for.

So do you need a “sabbath” rest in your life? Do you need to cultivate a “sabbath lifestyle”? I think we can all see the benefit of down-shifting. We need time to slow down, instead of always working hard and playing hard. Wouldn’t it be nice to power-down occasionally, to a lower and slower gear?

One of the prime culprits of our stressed-out society is the pervasiveness of tech devices. Our devices can be helpful, but they can also become the source of great stress. A group back in 2003 started something called the “sabbath project.” One of the things they do each year is determine a “National Day of Unplugging.” The idea is, one of the things we must do is occasionally take a break from technology. They recommend having a “tech sabbath,” so to speak. And it’s true—we’ve got to unplug, from time to time. It’s good for our minds, our relationships, and our health. Consider the testimony of one family, an article that appeared on the Wired.com website:

“My family and I started going completely screen-free one day a week for what we called our Technology Shabbat. We read, journaled, cooked, had friends over, went for bike rides, played music, made art, and sometimes we just did nothing. A decade later, we’re still doing it every week… and it’s still our favorite day. It’s made the whole family happier and more balanced” (“Everything You Need to Enjoy One Tech-Free Day a Week,” Wired.com, October 10, 2019).

If we don’t have control of our devices, we’re headed for trouble. And this affects everyone. Here’s how one woman described her experience fighting against the tyranny of endless tasks, and how she began to find solutions:

“So many of us are tired. Between meeting the needs of those around us, running our homes, working, or waking up with children throughout the night, we find ourselves depleted mentally, physically and emotionally. This exhaustion leads us to turn our focus from the things that matter most to survival. If that’s you, God has prepared a very practical balm for your weariness. It’s called Sabbath…. If we want to experience all the fulness of living and being that God has for us, I believe we need an element of Sabbath rest in our week! Whether mothers, homemakers or working women—Sabbath was created to meet a deep-seated need in us” (“How to Unleash the Power of Sabbath Rest in Your Life as a Homemaker,” EmbracingASimplerLife.com, Accessed June 29, 2021).

We all need to see the value of resting, of having a sort of pause in our lives. We need a regular, weekly time to pause, just to keep a balanced mental perspective.

But you might say, “that all sounds well and good, but I’m too busy to stop. I have too much to do. This sabbath thing won’t work for me.” Think about that. It’s when you are overwhelmed when you need this help the most. And if you don’t get control of your life now, when will you?

What is the Original Day of Sabbath?

We all need to find some space in our lives. And people all over the world are discovering the benefits from having some downtime every week. Maybe you’ve taken this step and are experiencing new-found peace in your life.

The idea of a sabbath didn’t just appear out of thin air. It comes from the Hebrew word “shabbat,” in the Hebrew Scriptures, in our Bible. It means “to stop, pause, or cease.” It’s a rest from activity and labor.

If you have a Bible, turn with me to the very first chapter of Genesis. In Genesis 1, we find the account of God creating all the living creatures on earth, including the first man and woman. And then in Genesis 2:1, it says,

“Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made” (Genesis 2:1–3).

Where did this idea of taking some time to rest after a period of work come from? Straight from the Creator God. He modeled that behavior right here in the beginning of the Bible. It happened at the dawn of civilization. In other words, the idea of “sabbath” has been around a long time.

But what about the word “sabbath”? The first time that word appears in the Bible is Exodus 20:8:

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

“Sabbath” just means “cessation” or “rest.” So, “remember the sabbath day” just means “remember the rest day.” This is something God wrote into the Ten Commandments. Let’s read the rest of it, back in Exodus 20:

Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work…. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:8–11).

So, God actually created a rest day at the beginning of Creation. He rested and His intention was that His children—that’s us—would also benefit from a weekly rest our whole lives. God wants us to work hard. And when the work is done, He wants us to take a well-deserved rest.

“Sabbath” is not just a vague idea. It springs from a specific event in history. It was created by God, at the beginning. And it applies to a specific day each week. We all need to be restored and rejuvenated. But why don’t we give ourselves permission to take a break?

Consider what one Internet author said about this question:

For some reason, though, we naturally interpret the Bible’s statements about Sabbath rest as more of a suggestion than a divine command. We think, “That’s a great idea, but I’m too busy.” This is true. I am busy. You are busy. Our culture is busy and it’s only speeding up… Our gas tanks are always on empty, and when we stop we are hardly ever able to put more than a few dollars in the tank. We are never full (“Ritchie: The gift of Sabbath rest in an anxious age,” Amarillo.com, June 2, 2016).

Think about that. We’re too busy to stop. We’re forever locked into a loop of exhaustion, never catching up. Are you tired of that cycle?

The writer continues:

But could it be that our lack of observance of the Sabbath is contributing to our weariness? Could our lack of Sabbath rest and worship potentially explain why we are an exhausted people? Could it be the ways we try to find rest never restore us because we were created to find our rest in God?… What better gift could we possibly receive than this Sabbath rest in our anxious age?

How many of us go from one frenetic task to another, until we collapse? Why don’t we just rest on a regular basis, on the schedule God set for us?

All too often, we don’t stop until we have to stop. And maybe that’s why God tells us, “This is mandatory—you have to take a break each week.” Because there’s always another load of wash to do, another space to clean, another report to submit. 

Have you noticed, all too often, we only do things that are good for us when we have to? Maybe we don’t exercise or take care of our health, until something causes us pain. We notice the effects of neglecting our health, and we decide, “Okay, I have to do this because it’s good for me.”

So, what about you? Wouldn’t it make sense for God to say, “Look, this is so important for you. I want you to have a healthy mental state. So, I’m telling you, you must take a break at the end of every week.”

The Sabbath Was Made for Our Good!

God in His mercy created and even scheduled that time for us. And since we often don’t do things unless we absolutely have to, He made it mandatory. And that’s good for us.

In the remaining time of this program, we’ll find there’s an even greater picture in regard to a sabbath rest.

Turn in your Bible to Colossians 2:16. In this verse, Paul wrote the following:

“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come” (Colossians 2:16).

There’s much misunderstanding about this verse. Let’s just focus on one phrase. That is, “Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come.”

What the Apostle Paul is saying is that as good as sabbaths are for giving us a weekly rest now, they’re also symbolic of something greater to come. Many students of the Bible recognize there have been roughly 6,000 years of human history, and that the Bible predicts a coming 1,000-year millennial reign of Jesus Christ. If we apply the “day for a year” principle found in 2 Peter 3:8, the weekly seventh-day sabbath is a type of the coming millennium. In that sense, the seventh millennium corresponds to the seventh day of the week.

We find Scriptures that support this idea elsewhere in the New Testament. Let’s look at Hebrews 4:1:

“Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.”

He’s saying, the Israelites did not enter the Promised Land because of their disobedience. But we can enter God’s Kingdom, at Christ’s Second Coming, if we’re faithful and obedient.

Going on,

“For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: ‘And God rested on the seventh day from all His works’” (Hebrews 4:4).

He’s discussing the seventh-day sabbath established at the Creation when God rested.

“Since, then, it remains for some to enter His rest, and since those who formerly heard the good news did not enter because of their disobedience, God again designated a certain day as ‘Today,’ when a long time later He spoke through David as was just stated: ‘Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts. For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God’” (Hebrews 4:6–9, Berean Study Bible).

What does this mean? If we’re the people of God, the sabbath rest means something very important. It means we observe that weekly rest in our lives NOW. The Greek word here translated “sabbath” is “sabbatizmos.” It comes directly from the Hebrew word “shabbat,” which means the weekly Sabbath. Christians are to observe the weekly sabbath.

But it goes far beyond that. If the Sabbaths are a shadow of things to come, every seventh-day that comes around in the calendar is also a prophecy of a coming millennial Sabbath. That’s when God’s Kingdom will reign on this earth, at Christ’s second coming.

Notice what the writer warns us to do:

“For whoever 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, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience” (Hebrews 4:10–11, Berean Study Bible).

We’re reminded to live our lives in such a way that we may enter the rest of God’s Kingdom, at Christ’s return.

In other words, there’s hope for this tired and worn-out world. There’s a new world coming. And that new world, in contrast to this age, will be peaceful and full of hope. The violence and tension of this age will be no more. Notice how that coming world is described in Isaiah 32:16–18:

“Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. The work of righteousness will be peace, And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places….”

The weekly seventh-day sabbath is symbolic of a coming millennial age of peace and prosperity.

There’s much more to say about the Sabbath. You can find many articles and programs about the Sabbath on our Tomorrow’s World website. What we’re focusing on today is the necessity of a break for people in this world. There is a better way. But in truth, we need not just a general idea of a pause in our life; we need the regular and mandatory rest designed by our Creator.

The True Purpose of the Sabbath—In This Life and Beyond

When Jesus was on this earth, He taught His disciples a lifestyle of peace and tranquility that did not depend on outside circumstances. Notice what He said in Matthew 11:28:

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30).

If you long for relief from the burdens of life, learn from Jesus Christ. He has the answers. He’ll give you peace, if you’re obedient to His will and respond to His love.

In this world, there are many things to worry about. But Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25:

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” (Matthew 6:25–27).

He knows we’re working hard, because we have to. We’ve got to feed ourselves. We’ve got to take care of our family. And He says, “I’ll help you, if you look to Me.”

And notice what else He says, in Matthew 6:33–34:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

We can have peace of mind. God knows the anxiety this world produces. But He’s offering you a weekly sabbath. It’s a total break from work for a 24-hour period, week in and week out. Doesn’t that sound nice? Just imagine if every Friday at sundown you could leave your work behind. You could spend extra time with your family. You could read the Bible and meditate on God’s plan for you. You could go to church the next day with others of like mind, and fellowship with them. You could spend the remaining hours of the Sabbath not mowing the lawn or doing chores, but going for walks and reflecting on what you’ve learned.

That’s the way God designed the Sabbath. Not the way the Pharisees kept it, making it a burden. Jesus corrected the Pharisees on how they were keeping the Sabbath, as we see in Mark 2:23:

“Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to Him, ‘Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?’” (Mark 2:23–24).

The Pharisees were trying to accuse Jesus and his disciples on how they were keeping the sabbath, but Jesus turned it around and explained the true perspective about the sabbath in verse 25.

“But He said to them, ‘Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat, except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?’ And He said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath’” (Mark 2:25–28).

The Pharisees had accused Jesus Christ and his disciples of keeping the Sabbath in the wrong way, but Jesus described the true perspective about the Sabbath. He is the Lord of the Sabbath, He created the Sabbath. He designed the Sabbath as a 24-hour period to throttle back and think about your life. The gift is yours for the taking.

So, do you need a break? Do you need some rest? The Sabbath isn’t just an idea of snatching some down time now and then. It’s a weekly gift from God, to refresh us and give us peace. And it’s a promise of a better world to come. The Sabbath is a gift God has given to an anxious world. Experience that gift for yourself.

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