God created heavens and earth and rested on the seventh day, the original sabbath. God has been working to this day, as revealed by Jesus. Jesus has been preparing for new dwelling places for all redeemed brethren. The holy spirit is convicting, convincing, and converting people until the day of Jesus' second coming.

You see, the triune God is a community of work (creation, redemption, and regeneration). In eternity, work of ruling over new heavens and new earth is part of divine duty of the new humanity.

When Jesus walked on earth, many Jews, especially the religious authority, accused him of not observing the sabbath. Jesus reasoned with them: Did King David and his followers eat the bread from the Temple table on Sabbath? Did priests work on the day of sabbath? Did some eight-day old Jewish boys (1/7 on average) happen to have their circumcision done on Sabbath day? Is it lawful to save on Sabbath day?

So where is 一片净土, a land of true rest? We may further ask: where and when is our lot of true rest? Or simply, what is our sabbath rest? Or most provocatively, WHO is our sabbath rest?

The author of the book of Hebrews clearly indicated in chapter 4 that there was a new sabbath in the Lord Jesus. Paul in Romans 14 also suggested that any day could be made a sabbath day of rest.

Jesus issued invitation to all who are weary and heavey ladden to come before him and have rest (Matthew 11).

Rest is not doing nothing. Rest is a state of mind in great peace and tranquility. Rest is enjoying God's presence. One can enjoy rest in God while they kneel before the Lord, one can also enjoy rest in God while busy with ministry as long as their communication channel with God is open 24/7 with unlimited broadband. The overflowing joy of serving the Lord by serving the needy is a sure sign of rest.

Thus the question is not really where and when, but WHO. It is not where we find sabbath rest, it is not when we find sabbath rest. It is in WHOM we find our sabbath rest. Jesus Christ holds the key to our sabbath rest. Wherever and whenever we have rest in Jesus, we have true sabbath rest. It is whether or not we are abiding in Jesus that we find sabbath rest.

Do you lack God's transcending presence? Find Jesus! Are you disconnected from the transf0rming power of the holy spirit? Find Jesus!

We shall be restless unless and until we rest in Christ Jesus our savior, Lord, elder brother, and teacher par excellence.

Rest seems far, but as close as our very breath. It is a breath away, if that breath is our prayer.