WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.400 Welcome everyone. My name's Steve. I haven't met you before. I'd be grateful if you had your Bibles 00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:09.720 open to that section. We are working our way through the early chapters of the book of Genesis. 00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:16.260 We'll be lingering in these chapters for a couple of weeks. So it'd be great if you had your Bibles 00:00:16.260 --> 00:00:23.480 open. And also the St. Paul's app will give you an outline for today's message. The song Friday 00:00:23.480 --> 00:00:32.399 On My Mind was released in 1966 by the Australian band The Easy Beats. It sat at position number one 00:00:32.399 --> 00:00:44.299 on the list of Australia's all-time favourite songs for over four decades. And the reason for that, 00:00:44.859 --> 00:00:51.760 according to those who study such things, is it catches something of the mindset of Australian 00:00:51.759 --> 00:01:00.719 culture. On Monday, I've got Friday on my mind. That is, the day I start working, I can't wait 00:01:00.719 --> 00:01:09.599 to finish working. I think about the day when I stop working. Early retirement, in fact, in our culture 00:01:09.599 --> 00:01:17.079 is the ultimate thing to aspire to. It's even an idol in our culture, because anything is better 00:01:17.079 --> 00:01:24.200 than having to work. And so what we're going to do today in this text is look at a couple of the key 00:01:24.200 --> 00:01:35.200 words that keep coming up in Genesis 1 and 2, the key words of work and rest. And I think it's a 00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:42.859 subject that's relevant for many of us today. There used to be such a thing called the 40-hour work week. 00:01:42.859 --> 00:01:47.700 Unless, of course, you worked for the government, it was 38 hours. True, I used to work for the government 00:01:47.700 --> 00:01:58.840 once upon a time, 38 hours. And so it's like, what happened to that? The rhythms, there used to be a 00:01:58.840 --> 00:02:06.200 rhythm, if you like. And even in ministry, when I first started ministry 30 years ago, there was this 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:13.159 rhythm of work, rest, and play, and that almost doesn't exist anymore. What's happened? What's 00:02:13.159 --> 00:02:21.060 going on? Families and communities are suffering because of a culture of work in our society. So 00:02:21.060 --> 00:02:26.120 I've got three points on the app, called to work, how to work, and working well. So called to work. 00:02:26.659 --> 00:02:34.159 As part of the image bearing that we see there in the creation, people are called to work. God 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:41.979 himself works. Genesis 2.2. By the seventh day, God had finished the work he'd been doing, and on the 00:02:41.979 --> 00:02:49.620 seventh day, he rested from all his work. God works. And although we read there that God ceased his 00:02:49.620 --> 00:02:56.800 creating activity on the seventh day of creation, we are told in John 5.17 that God continues to work. 00:02:57.319 --> 00:03:02.939 He still works. In fact, as the Lord of creation who upholds everything by the power of his word, 00:03:02.939 --> 00:03:08.680 if he ever ceased to work, everything we know now would dissolve into nothingness. 00:03:09.919 --> 00:03:16.960 He continues to uphold the universe as it is. And so this is an amazing statement here. 00:03:18.460 --> 00:03:21.699 What is so amazing about Genesis 2.2? 00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:30.340 In creation accounts of Eastern culture, for instance, the Babylonian creation account, 00:03:30.340 --> 00:03:35.560 probably the most famous Eastern creation account, called Eluma Elish, 00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:48.900 humanity is created as a primitive, lowly creature for the purpose of laboring to keep the world going 00:03:48.900 --> 00:03:54.000 so that the gods don't have to do anything. That's why humanity was created. 00:03:54.000 --> 00:04:05.080 And for creation accounts like Eluma Elish, work is considered bad, primitive, terrible. 00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:08.240 The divines don't work. 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:16.480 On the other hand, on the creation accounts in Western culture, like those of Greco-Roman culture, 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:20.900 the most famous of Greco-Roman culture creation account is Pandora's box. 00:04:22.720 --> 00:04:29.700 Zeus gives Pandora this box. It was actually a jar, really, but it's become known as a box. 00:04:30.540 --> 00:04:33.740 And Zeus says, open it. And she opens it. 00:04:33.879 --> 00:04:39.700 And what comes out of the Pandora's box is all this bad stuff. 00:04:40.660 --> 00:04:45.400 Death, disease, decay, and work. 00:04:45.399 --> 00:04:52.379 And so in the Greek myths, work is bad. 00:04:52.959 --> 00:04:56.000 Eastern and Western, work is bad. 00:04:57.139 --> 00:05:00.560 And Genesis 1 is the opposite. 00:05:02.539 --> 00:05:04.279 Work is good. 00:05:05.979 --> 00:05:10.259 Genesis tells us that work is something that our creator God actually does. 00:05:10.500 --> 00:05:11.879 It is something good. 00:05:11.879 --> 00:05:14.319 In chapter 2, verse 7, we read, 00:05:14.439 --> 00:05:20.279 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground 00:05:20.279 --> 00:05:24.759 and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. 00:05:25.540 --> 00:05:27.920 The man became a living being. 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:35.899 I said last week that the book of Genesis, before anything else, 00:05:35.899 --> 00:05:38.919 it is about God. 00:05:39.919 --> 00:05:43.219 It is the beginning of the doctrine of God. 00:05:44.359 --> 00:05:51.060 First and foremost, his name, God is referred to 35 times in the first chapter. 00:05:52.419 --> 00:05:57.079 And there is something really interesting that we note here about God. 00:05:57.079 --> 00:06:07.339 Up to this point in Genesis, Moses has used the name Elohim for the name of God. 00:06:07.479 --> 00:06:08.560 Up to this point. 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:18.719 It's a name that portrays God's majesty as the creator of all that is. 00:06:18.720 --> 00:06:23.000 It signifies a omnipotent deity. 00:06:25.460 --> 00:06:33.380 But from chapter 2, verse 4, which technically is actually the beginning of chapter 2. 00:06:33.620 --> 00:06:34.520 We won't get into that. 00:06:34.620 --> 00:06:40.380 The guy who originally put the chapter headings in the Bible, 00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:41.800 because it never used to have chapter headings. 00:06:41.880 --> 00:06:42.960 It wasn't written with chapter headings. 00:06:42.959 --> 00:06:45.399 And when he put the chapter headings in, the guy who did that, 00:06:45.899 --> 00:06:47.500 apparently did it on horseback. 00:06:47.739 --> 00:06:49.719 So, you know, we're cutting some slack here. 00:06:51.479 --> 00:06:58.539 Chapter 2, verse 4, the name of God switches to Yahweh Elohim, 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:01.560 the Lord God. 00:07:02.939 --> 00:07:06.639 And so from chapter 2, verse 4, to the end of chapter 4, 00:07:06.779 --> 00:07:11.060 the dominant name for God is Yahweh Elohim. 00:07:11.060 --> 00:07:18.280 And it's a combination of the creator God and the covenant-keeping relational God. 00:07:20.759 --> 00:07:28.220 And the God of Genesis, therefore, is not a distant, cruel, angry God 00:07:28.220 --> 00:07:32.879 who creates primitive beings to do his labor. 00:07:33.980 --> 00:07:36.759 He is a God who is powerful but very good. 00:07:36.759 --> 00:07:41.300 He is a God who is humble and gentle of heart. 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:48.459 And we get a glimpse of that, the first glimpse of it, in chapter 2, verse 7. 00:07:48.459 --> 00:07:57.079 This is such an interesting contrast to Greek philosophical thinking, 00:07:57.799 --> 00:08:01.579 which says manual work is bad. 00:08:02.719 --> 00:08:04.799 Manual work is a curse. 00:08:06.659 --> 00:08:08.000 Manual work is a punishment. 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:10.620 Chapter 2, verse 7, 00:08:10.620 --> 00:08:15.819 God stoops down into the soil and forms man. 00:08:19.079 --> 00:08:22.860 This God is a God who's got dirt under his fingertips. 00:08:27.040 --> 00:08:30.420 Humanity is the apex of God's creation, 00:08:31.100 --> 00:08:32.139 creating the image of God. 00:08:32.139 --> 00:08:35.360 According to verses 26 and 28 of chapter 1, 00:08:36.460 --> 00:08:38.399 we are his image bearers, 00:08:38.620 --> 00:08:42.259 and part of our purpose as his image bearers 00:08:42.259 --> 00:08:44.919 is to rule the created order. 00:08:45.939 --> 00:08:49.059 We are God's royal figures, 00:08:49.259 --> 00:08:52.259 his vicegerents over creation. 00:08:52.259 --> 00:08:59.120 We exercise a delegated power on behalf of our God. 00:08:59.120 --> 00:09:02.519 And then from verse 8, 00:09:03.820 --> 00:09:08.379 we see in verse 2 that God is the God who plants the garden. 00:09:10.379 --> 00:09:14.860 And then he puts Adam in it and tells him to be the gardener. 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:21.060 All work, including manual work, 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:23.899 is part of paradise. 00:09:23.899 --> 00:09:28.860 And all work is held up as good. 00:09:29.579 --> 00:09:32.919 It is part of God's good creation. 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:39.100 This is so different than the way we think of things in our world. 00:09:40.980 --> 00:09:44.659 For instance, in communist ideology, 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:47.759 professionals are disdained. 00:09:49.639 --> 00:09:52.379 Manual workers are disdained in capitalism. 00:09:53.899 --> 00:09:56.639 But in biblical Christianity, 00:09:57.919 --> 00:09:59.519 all work is good, 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:01.819 and all work has dignity. 00:10:04.059 --> 00:10:05.699 So then how should we work? 00:10:06.819 --> 00:10:07.740 That's my second point. 00:10:08.100 --> 00:10:10.379 I want to touch briefly on three practical things 00:10:10.379 --> 00:10:11.879 on how we should go about our work. 00:10:12.439 --> 00:10:14.000 Really simply, look in, 00:10:14.539 --> 00:10:15.860 look out, look up. 00:10:16.179 --> 00:10:18.279 That's really the three points, really briefly. 00:10:18.279 --> 00:10:21.919 This is how we go about our work 00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:23.639 and what the Bible says about the nature of things. 00:10:23.740 --> 00:10:24.360 So look in, 00:10:24.819 --> 00:10:26.439 that is, look into what you're gifted to. 00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:28.279 Take a look at chapter 1, verse 26. 00:10:29.459 --> 00:10:30.179 Then God said, 00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:32.939 let us make mankind in our image, 00:10:33.179 --> 00:10:34.279 in our likeness, 00:10:34.339 --> 00:10:35.959 so that they may rule. 00:10:38.039 --> 00:10:40.079 God's image is that he is the creator 00:10:40.079 --> 00:10:41.740 and ruler of all that he's made. 00:10:41.740 --> 00:10:44.779 And so he makes humanity in his image 00:10:44.779 --> 00:10:47.460 and he makes us rulers of all that he's made. 00:10:48.279 --> 00:10:51.779 We are all made in the image of our creator 00:10:51.779 --> 00:10:53.519 and so we create. 00:10:55.039 --> 00:10:58.580 The Hebrew word for God creating 00:10:58.580 --> 00:11:01.820 in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 00:11:01.820 --> 00:11:05.879 is that he creates out of nothing. 00:11:06.560 --> 00:11:08.100 That's his creative work. 00:11:08.100 --> 00:11:09.220 Ex nilio. 00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:11.080 It is out of nothing. 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:12.940 Nothing exists and he creates. 00:11:14.540 --> 00:11:16.759 And that's used three times 00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:18.480 in Genesis 1 and 2, that word. 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:19.379 Three times. 00:11:19.820 --> 00:11:22.100 All referring to God's creating work. 00:11:22.659 --> 00:11:24.360 But there's a heap of other words 00:11:24.360 --> 00:11:26.700 that are used in Genesis 1 and 2. 00:11:27.080 --> 00:11:29.500 Words like form, make, separate, shape. 00:11:29.840 --> 00:11:33.899 And they are used of both God and people. 00:11:33.899 --> 00:11:39.340 So the truest sense of our humanity's creating work 00:11:39.340 --> 00:11:41.819 is to make, 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:45.840 is to sub-create, if you like. 00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:48.000 God's creative work 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:51.039 is to make something entirely new 00:11:51.039 --> 00:11:53.159 from no matter at all 00:11:53.159 --> 00:11:54.639 and only God can do that. 00:11:55.259 --> 00:11:58.740 To sub-create is to make something relatively new 00:11:58.740 --> 00:12:00.899 using existing material. 00:12:00.899 --> 00:12:04.360 And sub-creating is what the spirit does 00:12:04.360 --> 00:12:05.720 in chapter 1 verse 2. 00:12:06.459 --> 00:12:07.959 Hovering over the empty matter 00:12:07.959 --> 00:12:09.740 and bringing order from chaos, 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:12.360 newness out of unformed material. 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:16.100 And every human being, 00:12:16.539 --> 00:12:17.799 in some way, 00:12:18.419 --> 00:12:20.480 has a desire to reflect 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:22.360 that work of God. 00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:27.320 It might be developing a product. 00:12:29.100 --> 00:12:30.779 It might be starting a business. 00:12:31.080 --> 00:12:33.379 It might be creating a piece of, 00:12:33.460 --> 00:12:35.000 or sub-creating a piece of art. 00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:38.600 It might be turning around 00:12:38.600 --> 00:12:41.360 a dysfunctional work team 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:42.820 or a dysfunctional partner, 00:12:43.220 --> 00:12:44.180 a department, 00:12:44.419 --> 00:12:46.100 or a dysfunctional organisation. 00:12:46.100 --> 00:12:48.920 It might be an educator 00:12:48.920 --> 00:12:52.840 bringing out the potential in a student, 00:12:53.399 --> 00:12:55.220 a medical professional 00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:57.360 bringing order to a broken body, 00:12:57.740 --> 00:13:00.320 a therapist bringing order to a broken mind. 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:04.139 I could go on and on and on and on and on. 00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:06.019 A mother changing, 00:13:06.139 --> 00:13:06.920 or a father actually, 00:13:07.159 --> 00:13:07.960 I don't want to get, 00:13:08.759 --> 00:13:10.019 changing a nappy. 00:13:10.019 --> 00:13:14.360 Changing a nappy to bring disorder 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:16.199 from this mess. 00:13:17.579 --> 00:13:18.659 You could go on. 00:13:18.759 --> 00:13:20.299 It could be bringing order 00:13:20.299 --> 00:13:21.579 to gardens and buildings 00:13:21.579 --> 00:13:23.019 and people's hair and clothing 00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:24.699 and raising. 00:13:24.899 --> 00:13:26.199 I mean, you just go on bringing. 00:13:26.659 --> 00:13:28.399 That is the work of sub-creating. 00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:32.679 As I mentioned last week, 00:13:33.460 --> 00:13:36.199 in Greek philosophy, 00:13:36.500 --> 00:13:37.919 divides the world 00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:40.179 into the spiritual being good 00:13:40.179 --> 00:13:42.079 and the physical being bad. 00:13:42.819 --> 00:13:45.899 It is not biblical Christianity at all. 00:13:48.500 --> 00:13:50.659 There is something very physical 00:13:50.659 --> 00:13:52.919 about the work of spiritual work 00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:53.559 that I do. 00:13:54.919 --> 00:13:57.099 And there is something deeply spiritual 00:13:57.099 --> 00:13:58.879 about the physical work you do. 00:14:00.439 --> 00:14:01.479 And I do. 00:14:03.959 --> 00:14:05.519 God does not divide 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:07.179 between the secular and the sacred. 00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:10.399 It is not biblical Christianity 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:11.219 to do that. 00:14:12.659 --> 00:14:14.199 So as a Christian, 00:14:15.179 --> 00:14:17.879 if you are not well, 00:14:19.019 --> 00:14:21.360 pray to God about your sickness 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:23.879 and go to the doctor. 00:14:26.059 --> 00:14:27.439 And go to the doctor. 00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:32.339 You are not being super spiritual. 00:14:32.579 --> 00:14:34.039 You are not being more spiritual. 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:35.500 You're not being more mature 00:14:35.500 --> 00:14:36.879 by not going to the doctor. 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:41.340 If your car breaks down, 00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:42.340 pray about it, 00:14:42.659 --> 00:14:43.639 but call a mechanic. 00:14:47.700 --> 00:14:50.320 God has gifted humanity 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:53.360 for the work 00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:56.340 of bringing order 00:14:56.340 --> 00:14:57.639 out of chaos. 00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:00.340 That's his job. 00:15:00.919 --> 00:15:01.860 That is our job. 00:15:01.860 --> 00:15:07.100 So look into how God has gifted you 00:15:07.100 --> 00:15:08.779 in that space. 00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:11.960 I am so deeply thankful 00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:13.740 for the people who bring order 00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:16.159 in my life 00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:17.320 amongst the chaos 00:15:17.320 --> 00:15:18.759 in all kinds of way. 00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:21.560 The legal professionals 00:15:21.560 --> 00:15:22.539 who jump in 00:15:22.539 --> 00:15:25.039 when there's legal disorder. 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:27.259 for Craig, 00:15:27.419 --> 00:15:28.439 sitting over here, 00:15:29.219 --> 00:15:30.839 the work that he does, 00:15:30.919 --> 00:15:31.459 most of us 00:15:31.459 --> 00:15:32.579 are not even aware of. 00:15:32.839 --> 00:15:34.779 We get to sit in an ordered building 00:15:34.779 --> 00:15:35.759 because of this guy. 00:15:37.199 --> 00:15:38.240 We get to enjoy 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:39.259 ordered grounds 00:15:39.259 --> 00:15:40.419 because of this guy. 00:15:42.419 --> 00:15:43.480 You ought to be praising 00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:45.000 his work as much as mine. 00:15:47.059 --> 00:15:47.779 Or more, 00:15:48.099 --> 00:15:49.339 if you don't praise mine at all. 00:15:49.340 --> 00:15:52.639 Look out 00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:53.519 is the second point 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:54.720 to a world around you 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:55.879 and give the world 00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:57.259 what it needs to have. 00:15:57.620 --> 00:15:58.860 Chapter 2, verse 15, 00:15:59.180 --> 00:16:00.320 the Lord God took the man 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:01.560 and put him in the garden of Eden 00:16:01.560 --> 00:16:02.940 to work and take care of it. 00:16:03.300 --> 00:16:05.139 To take care of it, 00:16:05.320 --> 00:16:06.500 not to abuse it, 00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:07.820 not to exploit it, 00:16:08.060 --> 00:16:09.060 not to use it. 00:16:10.100 --> 00:16:11.120 And this is the issue 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:12.060 of stewardship. 00:16:12.300 --> 00:16:13.480 We are stewards 00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:14.340 of God's resources. 00:16:15.060 --> 00:16:15.639 We are stewards 00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:16.519 of God's gifts 00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:17.700 that he's given us 00:16:17.700 --> 00:16:19.139 for a higher purpose. 00:16:19.139 --> 00:16:20.939 our own glorification 00:16:20.939 --> 00:16:23.439 but for the creating of order 00:16:23.439 --> 00:16:25.120 in society, 00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:25.980 in his world. 00:16:27.699 --> 00:16:28.019 You see, 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:28.779 the first point 00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:29.819 of looking in 00:16:29.819 --> 00:16:32.539 to see how God gives me 00:16:32.539 --> 00:16:34.039 really does suit 00:16:34.039 --> 00:16:35.179 the Western individual 00:16:35.179 --> 00:16:37.179 mindset really well. 00:16:37.580 --> 00:16:38.379 Thanks for that, Steve. 00:16:38.419 --> 00:16:39.500 Let's finish the sermon there. 00:16:40.819 --> 00:16:42.019 But this one 00:16:42.019 --> 00:16:43.399 about the rest of the... 00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:44.379 Not so much. 00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:46.299 And this is the balance. 00:16:46.299 --> 00:16:47.819 work 00:16:47.819 --> 00:16:49.679 is not just 00:16:49.679 --> 00:16:50.819 about using 00:16:50.819 --> 00:16:51.500 my gifts 00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:52.679 and fulfilling me. 00:16:52.899 --> 00:16:53.779 It is about 00:16:53.779 --> 00:16:54.659 working for the good 00:16:54.659 --> 00:16:55.199 of others. 00:16:56.179 --> 00:16:57.179 So the biblical view 00:16:57.179 --> 00:16:57.799 of work 00:16:57.799 --> 00:16:59.459 is we are stewards 00:16:59.459 --> 00:17:00.719 of the world 00:17:00.719 --> 00:17:02.179 and the people 00:17:02.179 --> 00:17:03.039 around us. 00:17:05.220 --> 00:17:07.059 How is my work 00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:07.819 in contributing 00:17:07.819 --> 00:17:08.799 to the advancement 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:09.599 of society? 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:15.000 How is it contributing 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:15.699 to the advancement 00:17:15.699 --> 00:17:16.399 of society? 00:17:19.639 --> 00:17:20.359 That's a question 00:17:20.359 --> 00:17:20.719 for you 00:17:20.719 --> 00:17:21.599 before you go 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:22.539 to work tomorrow morning. 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:23.919 Or if you're not sure, 00:17:24.259 --> 00:17:24.659 ask me, 00:17:24.699 --> 00:17:25.319 I can tell you. 00:17:26.959 --> 00:17:27.959 In one way or another, 00:17:28.059 --> 00:17:28.619 it's really... 00:17:28.619 --> 00:17:28.799 I mean, 00:17:28.859 --> 00:17:30.059 it's clear. 00:17:30.439 --> 00:17:30.759 I mean, 00:17:30.879 --> 00:17:31.500 my optometrist 00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:32.119 over here 00:17:32.119 --> 00:17:33.159 helps me to see things 00:17:33.159 --> 00:17:34.059 so I can write sermons 00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:35.700 and read. 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:37.919 Get a greater glimpse 00:17:37.919 --> 00:17:38.559 of the world. 00:17:39.619 --> 00:17:40.359 Bringing order 00:17:40.359 --> 00:17:41.200 out of chaos. 00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:43.359 The last one 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:44.119 is to look up 00:17:44.119 --> 00:17:45.559 to the one 00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:46.480 who has called you. 00:17:48.220 --> 00:17:49.019 There is to be 00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:49.940 a sense of mission 00:17:49.940 --> 00:17:50.579 or purpose 00:17:50.579 --> 00:17:51.179 to our work. 00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:52.279 Ephesians 2.10, 00:17:52.659 --> 00:17:53.399 we are God's 00:17:53.399 --> 00:17:54.419 handiwork 00:17:54.419 --> 00:17:56.679 created in Christ Jesus 00:17:56.679 --> 00:17:58.139 to do good works 00:17:58.139 --> 00:17:59.700 which God prepared 00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:00.339 in advance 00:18:00.339 --> 00:18:01.019 for us to do. 00:18:01.019 --> 00:18:02.240 The Christian perspective 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:02.980 on work 00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:04.420 is that if we look in 00:18:04.420 --> 00:18:05.259 and see the way 00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:06.180 God has gifted us, 00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:07.400 if we look out 00:18:07.400 --> 00:18:08.180 to make a difference 00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:08.799 to those gifts 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:09.639 in the wider world 00:18:09.639 --> 00:18:10.859 to bring order 00:18:10.859 --> 00:18:11.700 to chaos, 00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:13.779 then we know 00:18:13.779 --> 00:18:14.700 ultimately 00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:15.420 that God 00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:16.619 will use that work. 00:18:19.339 --> 00:18:20.420 And if we work 00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:21.180 like this, 00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:22.359 we will be content 00:18:22.359 --> 00:18:23.480 with our vocation 00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:24.339 in life. 00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:26.259 But we need 00:18:26.259 --> 00:18:27.480 all three things 00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:27.960 together. 00:18:28.900 --> 00:18:30.079 All three of them. 00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:34.660 And that moves me 00:18:34.660 --> 00:18:36.000 here to the final point. 00:18:38.339 --> 00:18:39.420 Because what I've just 00:18:39.420 --> 00:18:40.220 said can seem 00:18:40.220 --> 00:18:41.460 so unrealistic. 00:18:43.879 --> 00:18:44.759 There is certainly 00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:46.220 truth in that thought. 00:18:48.180 --> 00:18:48.619 Frankly, 00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:49.460 for me personally, 00:18:49.619 --> 00:18:50.200 I have a job 00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:50.579 that ticks 00:18:50.579 --> 00:18:51.259 all the boxes 00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:51.759 for me. 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:53.119 My vocation 00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:53.539 in life 00:18:53.539 --> 00:18:54.379 ticks all the boxes 00:18:54.379 --> 00:18:54.799 for me. 00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:56.799 But even so, 00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:58.779 every single job, 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:00.539 every single vocation 00:19:00.539 --> 00:19:01.299 can be 00:19:01.299 --> 00:19:02.680 unbelievably 00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:03.879 frustrating. 00:19:06.180 --> 00:19:07.339 And at times 00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:07.859 crushing. 00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:11.680 And filled 00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:13.119 with all kinds 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:13.819 of difficulty 00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:14.639 and anxieties. 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:18.020 I fully understand 00:19:18.020 --> 00:19:19.420 that our work 00:19:19.420 --> 00:19:20.400 can hurt us. 00:19:20.900 --> 00:19:22.180 It can drain us. 00:19:22.360 --> 00:19:23.720 It is so frustrating. 00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:25.880 And yet, 00:19:26.840 --> 00:19:28.220 we haven't got 00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:28.580 to the rest 00:19:28.580 --> 00:19:29.320 of the Bible yet, 00:19:29.520 --> 00:19:31.360 which is so realistic 00:19:31.360 --> 00:19:32.280 about this. 00:19:34.060 --> 00:19:35.300 Work will never 00:19:35.300 --> 00:19:36.259 be the good 00:19:36.259 --> 00:19:37.100 it was created 00:19:37.100 --> 00:19:37.840 to be 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:39.980 unless we see 00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:42.379 that 00:19:42.379 --> 00:19:44.839 what we need 00:19:44.839 --> 00:19:45.799 in our hearts 00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:47.500 in order 00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:48.259 to work well. 00:19:48.339 --> 00:19:48.879 So let's move 00:19:48.879 --> 00:19:49.819 to the third point 00:19:49.819 --> 00:19:52.220 on working well. 00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:54.879 What we need 00:19:54.879 --> 00:19:56.000 in our hearts 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:57.399 to work well 00:19:57.399 --> 00:19:59.720 is rest. 00:20:01.059 --> 00:20:02.240 That's what we need. 00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:04.400 Genesis 2, 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:05.039 2-3. 00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:06.819 By the seventh day, 00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:07.880 God had finished 00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:08.359 the work 00:20:08.359 --> 00:20:09.299 he had been doing. 00:20:09.980 --> 00:20:11.000 And so on the seventh day, 00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:11.700 he rested 00:20:11.700 --> 00:20:12.859 from all his work. 00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:14.140 Then God 00:20:14.140 --> 00:20:15.440 blessed the seventh day 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:16.500 and made it holy 00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:17.960 because on it 00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:18.539 he rested 00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:19.220 from all 00:20:19.220 --> 00:20:19.680 the work 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:20.339 of creating 00:20:20.339 --> 00:20:21.380 that he had done. 00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:23.779 God finished 00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:24.359 his work 00:20:24.359 --> 00:20:25.019 and he rested. 00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:27.579 It is the only 00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:29.220 day of creation 00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:30.380 that God blesses. 00:20:30.380 --> 00:20:32.460 He made 00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:33.160 the seventh day 00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:33.640 holy. 00:20:34.800 --> 00:20:35.720 That means 00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:37.040 it's been set apart 00:20:37.040 --> 00:20:38.080 and it's been set apart 00:20:38.080 --> 00:20:38.800 for us. 00:20:40.140 --> 00:20:40.640 Unlike 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:41.420 the previous 00:20:41.420 --> 00:20:42.640 six days, 00:20:43.600 --> 00:20:44.260 the number 00:20:44.260 --> 00:20:45.140 of the day 00:20:45.140 --> 00:20:46.660 of this particular day, 00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:47.540 day seven, 00:20:47.720 --> 00:20:48.460 is repeated 00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:49.700 three times 00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:51.380 in Genesis 2 00:20:51.380 --> 00:20:52.220 and 3. 00:20:53.340 --> 00:20:54.520 Chapter 2, 00:20:54.620 --> 00:20:55.040 2 or 3. 00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:58.400 The seventh day 00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:59.880 stands 00:20:59.880 --> 00:21:00.660 apart 00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:01.120 in 00:21:01.120 --> 00:21:02.620 solidary 00:21:02.620 --> 00:21:03.880 grandeur 00:21:03.880 --> 00:21:06.380 as the crown 00:21:06.380 --> 00:21:08.160 to the six days 00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:08.780 of creating. 00:21:09.540 --> 00:21:10.380 God's rest 00:21:10.380 --> 00:21:10.760 here 00:21:10.760 --> 00:21:11.620 is one 00:21:11.620 --> 00:21:12.660 of deep 00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:13.340 pleasure 00:21:13.340 --> 00:21:15.100 and satisfaction 00:21:15.100 --> 00:21:16.140 at the fruit 00:21:16.140 --> 00:21:16.840 of his labor. 00:21:17.940 --> 00:21:18.860 From the beginning 00:21:18.860 --> 00:21:19.840 of creation, 00:21:20.580 --> 00:21:21.880 the seventh day 00:21:21.880 --> 00:21:23.080 was central 00:21:23.080 --> 00:21:25.940 not only 00:21:25.940 --> 00:21:26.740 to creation 00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:28.220 but to the 00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:28.900 ultimate 00:21:28.900 --> 00:21:29.900 destiny 00:21:29.900 --> 00:21:30.819 of all 00:21:30.819 --> 00:21:31.480 of humanity. 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:35.900 We can read 00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:36.660 in these 00:21:36.660 --> 00:21:37.500 two chapters 00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:38.319 a rhythm 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:39.079 of work 00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:39.859 and rest 00:21:39.859 --> 00:21:41.019 and it's 00:21:41.019 --> 00:21:41.819 certainly good 00:21:41.819 --> 00:21:42.940 for all people 00:21:42.940 --> 00:21:43.859 to practice it. 00:21:45.120 --> 00:21:46.240 But the Bible 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:46.900 tells us 00:21:46.900 --> 00:21:47.480 there's more 00:21:47.480 --> 00:21:48.339 to this rest 00:21:48.339 --> 00:21:48.680 than is 00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:49.120 immediately 00:21:49.120 --> 00:21:49.680 obvious 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:50.079 here. 00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:50.519 Immediately 00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:51.180 obvious. 00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:52.460 if we 00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:53.039 truly 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:53.480 want to 00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:53.960 be able 00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:54.920 to work 00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:55.600 as we 00:21:55.600 --> 00:21:56.360 have seen 00:21:56.360 --> 00:21:56.840 here 00:21:56.840 --> 00:21:58.000 then we 00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:58.940 need to 00:21:58.940 --> 00:22:01.120 have a 00:22:01.120 --> 00:22:02.140 truly 00:22:02.140 --> 00:22:02.960 Sabbath 00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:03.460 rest, 00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:04.320 a deep 00:22:04.320 --> 00:22:04.700 Sabbath 00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:05.160 rest. 00:22:05.960 --> 00:22:06.420 Let's just 00:22:06.420 --> 00:22:07.000 dig a little 00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:07.400 bit deeper 00:22:07.400 --> 00:22:07.759 on that. 00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:10.039 Psalm 95 00:22:10.039 --> 00:22:12.580 is all 00:22:12.580 --> 00:22:13.380 about worship. 00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:15.140 Psalm 95 00:22:15.140 --> 00:22:16.000 all about worship. 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:17.279 At the end 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:17.619 of the 00:22:17.619 --> 00:22:18.099 psalm 00:22:18.099 --> 00:22:18.619 we read 00:22:18.619 --> 00:22:18.940 something 00:22:18.940 --> 00:22:19.339 that's a 00:22:19.339 --> 00:22:19.539 little 00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:20.200 unusual. 00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:21.839 I'll 00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:22.579 paraphrase 00:22:22.579 --> 00:22:23.019 it a 00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:23.380 little bit 00:22:23.380 --> 00:22:24.000 for us. 00:22:24.839 --> 00:22:25.140 Hear 00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:25.740 his voice. 00:22:27.079 --> 00:22:27.759 Do not 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:28.160 harden 00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:28.960 your hearts 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:29.500 as your 00:22:29.500 --> 00:22:30.200 ancestors 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:30.819 did. 00:22:31.880 --> 00:22:32.420 So I 00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:33.099 declared 00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:33.900 on oath 00:22:33.900 --> 00:22:34.539 in my 00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:35.200 anger 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:36.680 they shall 00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:37.119 never 00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:37.700 enter 00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:38.420 my 00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:38.980 rest. 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:41.519 It's all 00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:42.279 about worship 00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:44.099 and God 00:22:44.099 --> 00:22:44.539 says 00:22:44.539 --> 00:22:45.380 they have 00:22:45.380 --> 00:22:45.920 rejected 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:46.640 me and 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:46.980 therefore 00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:47.360 they will 00:22:47.360 --> 00:22:47.620 never 00:22:47.620 --> 00:22:48.140 enter 00:22:48.140 --> 00:22:49.279 rest. 00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:51.519 It 00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:51.820 doesn't 00:22:51.820 --> 00:22:52.180 end there 00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:52.420 though. 00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:53.100 If you 00:22:53.100 --> 00:22:53.560 go further 00:22:53.560 --> 00:22:53.900 into the 00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:54.200 Bible 00:22:54.200 --> 00:22:54.759 Hebrews 00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:55.100 chapter 00:22:55.100 --> 00:22:56.019 3 and 00:22:56.019 --> 00:22:56.480 4 00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:57.539 it says 00:22:57.539 --> 00:22:57.920 there 00:22:57.920 --> 00:22:58.320 that there 00:22:58.320 --> 00:22:58.980 is still 00:22:58.980 --> 00:22:59.800 a rest 00:22:59.800 --> 00:23:00.980 for the 00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:01.440 people of 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:01.700 God. 00:23:01.820 --> 00:23:02.019 What's 00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:02.320 that all 00:23:02.320 --> 00:23:02.620 about? 00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:03.740 Well 00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:05.480 jump back 00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:06.120 into Psalm 00:23:06.120 --> 00:23:07.480 chapter 3 00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:08.120 verses 5 00:23:08.120 --> 00:23:08.640 and 6 00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:10.259 this is 00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:11.000 David 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:11.940 I 00:23:11.940 --> 00:23:12.320 lie 00:23:12.320 --> 00:23:12.880 down 00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:13.240 and 00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:14.039 sleep 00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:15.440 I 00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:15.899 wake 00:23:15.899 --> 00:23:16.639 again 00:23:16.639 --> 00:23:17.799 because 00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:18.119 the 00:23:18.119 --> 00:23:18.379 Lord 00:23:18.379 --> 00:23:18.799 has 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:19.440 sustained 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:19.799 me 00:23:19.799 --> 00:23:20.319 throughout 00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:20.639 my 00:23:20.639 --> 00:23:21.099 sleep 00:23:21.099 --> 00:23:22.799 I 00:23:22.799 --> 00:23:23.039 will 00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:23.379 not 00:23:23.379 --> 00:23:24.099 fear 00:23:24.099 --> 00:23:25.359 though 00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:26.099 tens 00:23:26.099 --> 00:23:26.440 of 00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:27.200 thousands 00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:28.079 assail 00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:28.500 me 00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:29.139 on 00:23:29.139 --> 00:23:29.700 every 00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:30.240 side. 00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:33.079 So here's 00:23:33.079 --> 00:23:33.420 David 00:23:33.420 --> 00:23:33.899 saying 00:23:33.899 --> 00:23:34.579 I am 00:23:34.579 --> 00:23:35.399 surrounded 00:23:35.399 --> 00:23:36.539 by tens 00:23:36.539 --> 00:23:37.500 of thousands 00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:38.379 of enemies 00:23:38.380 --> 00:23:40.200 and I'm 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:40.980 sleeping 00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:41.360 like a 00:23:41.360 --> 00:23:41.620 baby. 00:23:43.060 --> 00:23:43.580 Apologies 00:23:43.580 --> 00:23:44.040 if your 00:23:44.040 --> 00:23:44.240 baby 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:44.500 does not 00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:44.740 sleep 00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:44.900 that 00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:45.180 well. 00:23:47.940 --> 00:23:48.420 The 00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:49.060 Psalmist 00:23:49.060 --> 00:23:49.680 is talking 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:50.640 here about 00:23:50.640 --> 00:23:51.320 deep 00:23:51.320 --> 00:23:51.920 deep 00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:52.480 rest 00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:52.820 of the 00:23:52.820 --> 00:23:53.320 soul. 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:56.520 Deep 00:23:56.520 --> 00:23:56.920 rest of 00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:57.340 the soul 00:23:57.340 --> 00:23:57.880 a rest 00:23:57.880 --> 00:23:58.200 that we 00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:59.100 all need 00:23:59.100 --> 00:24:04.440 and a 00:24:04.440 --> 00:24:04.780 rest that 00:24:04.780 --> 00:24:05.140 so many 00:24:05.140 --> 00:24:05.520 do not 00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:05.920 have. 00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:08.420 And it 00:24:08.420 --> 00:24:09.319 plays out 00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:09.779 in our 00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:10.220 work. 00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:12.519 She's 00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:12.920 one of the 00:24:12.920 --> 00:24:13.180 biggest 00:24:13.180 --> 00:24:13.619 selling 00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:14.339 female 00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:15.139 artists 00:24:15.139 --> 00:24:15.579 of all 00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:16.099 time 00:24:16.099 --> 00:24:16.920 having 00:24:16.920 --> 00:24:17.240 sold 00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:17.539 over 00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:17.960 400 00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:18.359 million 00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:18.920 albums 00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:19.279 around 00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:19.480 the 00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:19.779 world. 00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:21.480 She's 00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:21.660 done 00:24:21.660 --> 00:24:22.000 TV 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:22.400 work, 00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:22.700 film 00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.019 work, 00:24:23.119 --> 00:24:23.339 launched 00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:23.660 her own 00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:24.059 line of 00:24:24.059 --> 00:24:24.460 clothing, 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:25.519 her career 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:25.819 has 00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:26.700 expanded 00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:27.119 more than 00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:27.440 four 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:27.920 decades 00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:28.859 and she's 00:24:28.859 --> 00:24:29.079 won 00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:29.559 multiple 00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:29.940 Golden 00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:30.420 Globes 00:24:30.420 --> 00:24:30.720 and 00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:31.240 Grammys. 00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:32.180 But 00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:32.759 Madonna 00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:33.700 still can't 00:24:33.700 --> 00:24:33.980 find 00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:34.440 rest. 00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:36.039 When 00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:36.319 Madonna 00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:36.980 was in 00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:37.180 the 00:24:37.180 --> 00:24:37.579 heyday 00:24:37.579 --> 00:24:37.920 of her 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:38.339 cultural 00:24:38.339 --> 00:24:39.000 significance 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:39.660 she gave 00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:39.960 a now 00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:40.440 famous 00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:41.000 interview 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:42.339 with 00:24:42.339 --> 00:24:42.839 I think 00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:43.019 it was 00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:43.720 Vanity Fair 00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:44.400 or Vogue 00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:45.599 for me 00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:45.980 I don't 00:24:45.980 --> 00:24:46.259 care. 00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:50.240 She said 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:50.819 what she 00:24:50.819 --> 00:24:51.379 said there 00:24:51.379 --> 00:24:51.839 about her 00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:52.420 work was 00:24:52.420 --> 00:24:53.480 very sobering. 00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:54.579 I have 00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:55.079 an iron 00:24:55.079 --> 00:24:55.619 wheel 00:24:55.619 --> 00:24:56.759 and all 00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:57.119 of my 00:24:57.119 --> 00:24:57.519 will 00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.379 has always 00:24:58.379 --> 00:24:58.900 been to 00:24:58.900 --> 00:24:59.319 conquer 00:24:59.319 --> 00:24:59.680 some 00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:00.200 horrible 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:00.859 feeling 00:25:00.859 --> 00:25:01.119 of 00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:02.119 inadequacy. 00:25:03.420 --> 00:25:03.700 I'm 00:25:03.700 --> 00:25:04.000 always 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:04.539 struggling 00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:05.159 with that 00:25:05.159 --> 00:25:05.659 fear. 00:25:06.379 --> 00:25:06.920 I push 00:25:06.920 --> 00:25:07.420 past 00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:07.740 one 00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:08.039 spell 00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:08.240 of it 00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:08.339 and 00:25:08.339 --> 00:25:08.700 discover 00:25:08.700 --> 00:25:09.099 myself 00:25:09.099 --> 00:25:09.680 as a 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:10.119 special 00:25:10.119 --> 00:25:10.440 human 00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:10.859 being 00:25:10.859 --> 00:25:11.259 and 00:25:11.259 --> 00:25:11.519 then I 00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:11.819 get to 00:25:11.819 --> 00:25:12.079 another 00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:12.519 stage 00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:12.779 and I 00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:13.139 think I'm 00:25:13.139 --> 00:25:13.920 mediocre 00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:14.899 and uninteresting. 00:25:15.619 --> 00:25:16.259 My drive 00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:16.819 in life 00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:17.159 is from 00:25:17.159 --> 00:25:17.879 this horrible 00:25:17.879 --> 00:25:18.579 fear of 00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:18.819 being 00:25:18.819 --> 00:25:19.440 mediocre 00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:20.539 and that's 00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:21.099 always 00:25:21.099 --> 00:25:21.859 pushing me 00:25:21.859 --> 00:25:22.720 pushing me 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:23.859 because even 00:25:23.859 --> 00:25:24.440 though I 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:24.879 become 00:25:24.879 --> 00:25:25.579 somebody 00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:26.659 I still 00:25:26.659 --> 00:25:27.119 have to 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:27.700 prove 00:25:27.700 --> 00:25:28.039 that 00:25:28.039 --> 00:25:28.700 somebody. 00:25:29.399 --> 00:25:29.539 My 00:25:29.539 --> 00:25:30.119 struggle 00:25:30.119 --> 00:25:30.920 has never 00:25:30.920 --> 00:25:31.359 ended 00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:32.200 and it 00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:32.639 probably 00:25:32.639 --> 00:25:33.559 never 00:25:33.559 --> 00:25:34.420 will. 00:25:34.539 --> 00:25:36.559 that 00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:37.039 was her 00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:37.519 answer 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:38.000 to the 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.659 question 00:25:38.659 --> 00:25:39.740 of why 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.220 do you 00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:40.619 work 00:25:40.619 --> 00:25:41.000 so 00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:41.740 hard? 00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:45.339 Harold 00:25:45.339 --> 00:25:46.139 Abrahams 00:25:46.139 --> 00:25:46.720 was an 00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:47.059 English 00:25:47.059 --> 00:25:47.539 athlete 00:25:47.539 --> 00:25:48.000 who won 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:48.279 the 100 00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:48.500 metre 00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:48.799 gold 00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:49.099 medal 00:25:49.099 --> 00:25:49.639 at the 00:25:49.639 --> 00:25:50.839 1924 00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:51.299 Paris 00:25:51.299 --> 00:25:51.839 Olympics. 00:25:52.519 --> 00:25:53.079 What was 00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:53.920 his motivation 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:54.680 to work 00:25:54.680 --> 00:25:55.240 so hard 00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:55.579 train 00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:56.220 so hard? 00:25:56.299 --> 00:25:56.559 He was 00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:57.099 asked that 00:25:57.099 --> 00:25:57.579 question 00:25:57.579 --> 00:25:58.579 what drove 00:25:58.579 --> 00:25:58.879 you? 00:25:59.259 --> 00:25:59.779 He said 00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.720 quote 00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:01.399 I've got 00:26:01.399 --> 00:26:02.399 10 seconds 00:26:02.399 --> 00:26:03.180 to justify 00:26:03.180 --> 00:26:03.559 my 00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:04.079 existence. 00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:11.960 You see 00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:12.720 on top 00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:12.980 of the 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:13.220 work 00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:13.559 that we 00:26:13.559 --> 00:26:14.019 do 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:14.879 our 00:26:14.879 --> 00:26:15.539 vocations 00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:16.180 in life 00:26:16.180 --> 00:26:16.680 is this 00:26:16.680 --> 00:26:17.099 deeper 00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:17.460 work 00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:17.700 that's 00:26:17.700 --> 00:26:17.920 going 00:26:17.920 --> 00:26:18.259 on in 00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:18.440 the 00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:18.839 soul. 00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:20.180 A 00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:20.440 work 00:26:20.440 --> 00:26:20.639 that 00:26:20.639 --> 00:26:21.079 sits 00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:21.619 under 00:26:21.619 --> 00:26:22.039 all 00:26:22.039 --> 00:26:22.200 of 00:26:22.200 --> 00:26:22.399 that 00:26:22.399 --> 00:26:22.980 work 00:26:22.980 --> 00:26:23.859 and 00:26:23.859 --> 00:26:24.079 for 00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:24.559 most 00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:25.159 part 00:26:25.159 --> 00:26:26.420 for 00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:26.559 the 00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:27.079 most 00:26:27.079 --> 00:26:27.519 part 00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:28.420 it's 00:26:28.420 --> 00:26:29.099 unseen. 00:26:29.099 --> 00:26:31.559 so many 00:26:31.559 --> 00:26:31.899 of us 00:26:31.899 --> 00:26:32.399 unaware 00:26:32.399 --> 00:26:33.559 that we're 00:26:33.559 --> 00:26:34.139 not actually 00:26:34.139 --> 00:26:34.859 just working 00:26:34.859 --> 00:26:35.119 in our 00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:35.839 vocations 00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:36.139 we're 00:26:36.139 --> 00:26:36.459 working 00:26:36.459 --> 00:26:36.819 deep 00:26:36.819 --> 00:26:37.119 in our 00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:37.379 souls 00:26:37.379 --> 00:26:37.699 at the 00:26:37.699 --> 00:26:37.919 same 00:26:37.919 --> 00:26:38.399 time. 00:26:40.399 --> 00:26:41.000 The 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:41.399 atheist 00:26:41.399 --> 00:26:41.859 Stephen 00:26:41.859 --> 00:26:42.139 J. 00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:42.539 Gould 00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:42.939 put it 00:26:42.939 --> 00:26:43.159 like 00:26:43.159 --> 00:26:43.579 this 00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:45.000 we're 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.899 here 00:26:45.899 --> 00:26:46.579 because 00:26:46.579 --> 00:26:47.059 one 00:26:47.059 --> 00:26:47.419 odd 00:26:47.419 --> 00:26:47.699 group 00:26:47.699 --> 00:26:47.939 of 00:26:47.939 --> 00:26:48.259 fishes 00:26:48.259 --> 00:26:48.879 had a 00:26:48.879 --> 00:26:49.339 peculiar 00:26:49.339 --> 00:26:49.819 fin 00:26:49.819 --> 00:26:50.220 anatomy 00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:51.059 that 00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:51.279 could 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:51.819 transform 00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:52.079 into 00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:52.399 legs 00:26:52.399 --> 00:26:52.579 for 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:53.019 terrestrial 00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:54.000 creatures. 00:26:54.659 --> 00:26:55.279 Because the 00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:55.779 earth never 00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:56.839 froze entirely 00:26:56.839 --> 00:26:57.279 during an 00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:57.859 ice age 00:26:57.859 --> 00:26:58.439 because our 00:26:58.439 --> 00:26:59.039 small and 00:26:59.039 --> 00:26:59.759 tenuous 00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:00.259 species 00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:00.939 arising in 00:27:00.939 --> 00:27:01.480 Africa a 00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:01.899 quarter of a million 00:27:01.899 --> 00:27:02.519 years ago 00:27:02.519 --> 00:27:03.500 has managed 00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.179 so far to 00:27:04.179 --> 00:27:04.720 survive by 00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:05.220 hook or by 00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:05.559 crook 00:27:05.559 --> 00:27:06.419 we may 00:27:06.419 --> 00:27:06.960 yearn for 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.339 a higher 00:27:07.339 --> 00:27:08.099 answer but 00:27:08.099 --> 00:27:08.299 none 00:27:08.299 --> 00:27:08.799 exists. 00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:09.740 This 00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:10.399 explanation 00:27:10.399 --> 00:27:10.740 though 00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:11.379 superficially 00:27:11.379 --> 00:27:11.839 troubling 00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:12.700 is ultimately 00:27:12.700 --> 00:27:13.399 liberating 00:27:13.399 --> 00:27:14.240 we have to 00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:14.700 construct 00:27:14.700 --> 00:27:15.099 therefore 00:27:15.099 --> 00:27:15.519 any 00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.099 meaning 00:27:16.099 --> 00:27:17.159 ourselves. 00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:18.720 And he's 00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:19.359 absolutely 00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:19.919 right. 00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:21.220 If you 00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:21.519 want to 00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:22.019 begin 00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:24.240 with the 00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:24.559 premise 00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:25.139 that there 00:27:25.139 --> 00:27:26.279 is no 00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:27.460 creator 00:27:27.460 --> 00:27:28.000 God 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:29.339 that it's 00:27:29.339 --> 00:27:30.099 all an 00:27:30.099 --> 00:27:30.799 accident 00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:31.899 a freak 00:27:31.899 --> 00:27:32.500 accident 00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:36.960 then you 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:37.299 have to 00:27:37.299 --> 00:27:37.640 construct 00:27:37.640 --> 00:27:37.940 meaning 00:27:37.940 --> 00:27:38.160 for 00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:38.640 yourself 00:27:38.640 --> 00:27:39.200 because 00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:39.640 no 00:27:39.640 --> 00:27:39.980 other 00:27:39.980 --> 00:27:40.339 meaning 00:27:40.339 --> 00:27:40.940 exists. 00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:43.500 That is 00:27:43.500 --> 00:27:44.339 the bedrock 00:27:44.339 --> 00:27:45.200 of secularism. 00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:46.079 There is 00:27:46.079 --> 00:27:46.900 no such 00:27:46.900 --> 00:27:47.279 thing as 00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:47.980 purpose in 00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:49.079 life and 00:27:49.079 --> 00:27:49.740 Stephen Jay 00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:50.119 Gould is 00:27:50.119 --> 00:27:50.519 one of the 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:50.940 few 00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:51.680 atheists 00:27:51.680 --> 00:27:53.279 who 00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:54.039 actually will 00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:54.440 acknowledge 00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:54.759 that 00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:56.940 or did 00:27:56.940 --> 00:27:57.259 acknowledge 00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:57.500 it. 00:27:58.519 --> 00:27:58.819 And so 00:27:58.819 --> 00:28:00.059 many of 00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:00.720 us in 00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:01.259 our 00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:03.400 productivity 00:28:03.400 --> 00:28:03.920 driven 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:04.440 western 00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:05.240 world 00:28:05.240 --> 00:28:06.240 are 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:06.680 trying to 00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:07.099 construct 00:28:07.099 --> 00:28:07.420 that 00:28:07.420 --> 00:28:07.819 meaning 00:28:07.819 --> 00:28:08.339 out of 00:28:08.339 --> 00:28:08.680 our 00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:09.640 work. 00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:11.539 Out of 00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:11.700 our 00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:12.319 vocation 00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:12.599 out of 00:28:12.599 --> 00:28:13.180 our stages 00:28:13.180 --> 00:28:13.900 in life 00:28:13.900 --> 00:28:14.539 out of 00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:14.700 our 00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:15.059 gifting. 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:18.160 There is 00:28:18.160 --> 00:28:18.640 a deeper 00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:19.359 work going 00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:19.920 on that 00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:20.740 our vocations 00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:21.539 feed into 00:28:21.539 --> 00:28:22.900 and that 00:28:22.900 --> 00:28:23.480 we actually 00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:23.940 try to 00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:24.859 extract from 00:28:24.859 --> 00:28:25.440 our work. 00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:26.900 And that 00:28:26.900 --> 00:28:27.319 is what 00:28:27.319 --> 00:28:27.980 makes our 00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:28.660 work such 00:28:28.660 --> 00:28:29.160 a burden 00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:30.400 such a 00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:30.700 mess 00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:32.380 so far 00:28:32.380 --> 00:28:33.580 from the 00:28:33.580 --> 00:28:34.380 ideal. 00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:36.580 If 00:28:36.580 --> 00:28:37.319 anything goes 00:28:37.319 --> 00:28:37.779 wrong with 00:28:37.779 --> 00:28:38.440 our work 00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:39.360 then our 00:28:39.360 --> 00:28:39.860 sense of 00:28:39.860 --> 00:28:40.640 self becomes 00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:41.480 unraveled. 00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:42.480 When we 00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:43.840 retire our 00:28:43.840 --> 00:28:44.279 sense of 00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:45.140 purposelessness 00:28:45.140 --> 00:28:45.920 increases. 00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:47.700 Our identities 00:28:47.700 --> 00:28:48.740 get rocked. 00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:51.019 This is where 00:28:51.019 --> 00:28:52.000 the Christian 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:52.799 teaching on 00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:54.059 creation and 00:28:54.059 --> 00:28:54.960 work is just 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:56.160 so helpful 00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:57.160 for our 00:28:57.160 --> 00:28:57.960 sense of 00:28:57.960 --> 00:28:58.440 being. 00:28:58.440 --> 00:29:02.019 in Genesis 00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:02.980 2 when 00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:03.700 God finishes 00:29:03.700 --> 00:29:04.220 the sixth 00:29:04.220 --> 00:29:04.600 day of 00:29:04.600 --> 00:29:05.080 creating 00:29:05.080 --> 00:29:05.640 he 00:29:05.640 --> 00:29:06.259 effectively 00:29:06.259 --> 00:29:07.120 declares 00:29:07.120 --> 00:29:09.279 it is 00:29:09.279 --> 00:29:10.500 finished. 00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:12.539 It's 00:29:12.539 --> 00:29:12.840 done. 00:29:15.539 --> 00:29:16.299 Centuries 00:29:16.299 --> 00:29:16.900 later the 00:29:16.900 --> 00:29:17.460 same God 00:29:17.460 --> 00:29:18.279 cries out the 00:29:18.279 --> 00:29:18.960 same words 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:19.840 it is 00:29:19.840 --> 00:29:20.940 finished. 00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:22.039 The first 00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:22.740 time God 00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:23.400 got rest 00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:24.100 because of 00:29:24.100 --> 00:29:24.660 creation 00:29:24.660 --> 00:29:26.080 the second 00:29:26.080 --> 00:29:26.779 time Jesus 00:29:26.779 --> 00:29:27.440 Christ 00:29:27.440 --> 00:29:28.420 calls out 00:29:28.420 --> 00:29:28.840 it is 00:29:28.840 --> 00:29:29.460 finished on 00:29:29.460 --> 00:29:29.860 the cross 00:29:29.860 --> 00:29:30.420 so that we 00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:30.779 could have 00:29:30.779 --> 00:29:31.320 deep soul 00:29:31.320 --> 00:29:31.759 rest. 00:29:34.060 --> 00:29:35.140 Hebrews 4 00:29:35.140 --> 00:29:35.740 verse 9 00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:36.340 puts it like 00:29:36.340 --> 00:29:36.779 this. 00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.200 There remains 00:29:38.200 --> 00:29:38.600 then a 00:29:38.600 --> 00:29:39.240 Sabbath rest 00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:39.519 for the 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:40.000 people of 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:40.360 God. 00:29:40.820 --> 00:29:41.220 For anyone 00:29:41.220 --> 00:29:41.840 who enters 00:29:41.840 --> 00:29:42.580 God's rest 00:29:42.580 --> 00:29:43.540 also rests 00:29:43.540 --> 00:29:43.980 from their 00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:45.640 work just 00:29:45.640 --> 00:29:46.140 as God 00:29:46.140 --> 00:29:46.740 did from 00:29:46.740 --> 00:29:47.160 his. 00:29:48.700 --> 00:29:49.340 See the 00:29:49.340 --> 00:29:49.720 rest of 00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:50.400 Hebrew 4 00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:51.340 tells us 00:29:51.339 --> 00:29:51.919 that we 00:29:51.919 --> 00:29:52.519 can enter 00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:53.159 God's 00:29:53.159 --> 00:29:53.779 eternal 00:29:53.779 --> 00:29:54.319 rest 00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:55.339 the purpose 00:29:55.339 --> 00:29:56.179 of creation 00:29:56.179 --> 00:29:57.659 right now 00:29:57.659 --> 00:29:58.419 in Jesus 00:29:58.419 --> 00:29:59.139 Christ. 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:00.539 Right now. 00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:03.299 The approval 00:30:03.299 --> 00:30:04.379 that every 00:30:04.379 --> 00:30:05.059 human being 00:30:05.059 --> 00:30:05.839 needs 00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:08.099 is to be 00:30:08.099 --> 00:30:08.720 approved 00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:09.439 in God's 00:30:09.439 --> 00:30:09.919 heart. 00:30:10.539 --> 00:30:10.699 The 00:30:10.699 --> 00:30:11.439 significance 00:30:11.439 --> 00:30:11.980 that we 00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:12.859 really need 00:30:12.859 --> 00:30:13.299 is the 00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:13.879 significance 00:30:13.879 --> 00:30:14.480 that we 00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:14.899 get from 00:30:14.899 --> 00:30:15.259 God's 00:30:15.259 --> 00:30:15.720 eyes. 00:30:16.079 --> 00:30:16.240 The 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:16.859 security 00:30:16.859 --> 00:30:17.279 that we 00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:17.500 need 00:30:17.500 --> 00:30:17.779 is the 00:30:17.779 --> 00:30:18.259 security 00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:18.659 of being 00:30:18.659 --> 00:30:18.939 wrapped 00:30:18.939 --> 00:30:19.500 in God's 00:30:19.500 --> 00:30:20.059 arms. 00:30:20.059 --> 00:30:22.019 work 00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:22.480 will 00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:23.119 never 00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:23.960 ever 00:30:23.960 --> 00:30:24.940 give it 00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:25.539 to us. 00:30:27.899 --> 00:30:28.779 God's 00:30:28.779 --> 00:30:29.279 work 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:29.679 is 00:30:29.679 --> 00:30:30.259 finished 00:30:30.259 --> 00:30:30.720 on the 00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:31.139 day of 00:30:31.139 --> 00:30:31.720 creation 00:30:31.720 --> 00:30:33.299 and the 00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:33.879 day of 00:30:33.879 --> 00:30:34.639 redemption. 00:30:35.899 --> 00:30:36.059 The 00:30:36.059 --> 00:30:37.019 Lord God 00:30:37.019 --> 00:30:38.240 is Yahweh 00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:39.019 Elohim. 00:30:39.879 --> 00:30:40.460 He is 00:30:40.460 --> 00:30:41.159 our creator 00:30:41.159 --> 00:30:42.019 and our 00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:42.619 redeemer. 00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:44.379 In 00:30:44.379 --> 00:30:44.759 Jesus 00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:45.319 Christ 00:30:45.319 --> 00:30:45.599 our 00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:46.179 existence 00:30:46.179 --> 00:30:46.779 is 00:30:46.779 --> 00:30:47.480 justified 00:30:47.480 --> 00:30:49.679 before we 00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:50.480 even get 00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:50.860 up in 00:30:50.860 --> 00:30:51.320 the morning 00:30:51.320 --> 00:30:51.700 and head 00:30:51.700 --> 00:30:52.200 to work. 00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:54.799 He is 00:30:54.799 --> 00:30:55.100 our 00:30:55.100 --> 00:30:55.620 existence 00:30:55.620 --> 00:30:56.200 and he 00:30:56.200 --> 00:30:56.799 is our 00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:57.400 justification. 00:30:57.900 --> 00:30:58.140 He is 00:30:58.140 --> 00:30:58.539 not our 00:30:58.539 --> 00:30:58.880 work. 00:31:00.500 --> 00:31:01.100 Religion 00:31:01.100 --> 00:31:02.060 turns even 00:31:02.060 --> 00:31:03.019 him into 00:31:03.019 --> 00:31:03.660 a work. 00:31:05.539 --> 00:31:06.360 We will 00:31:06.360 --> 00:31:06.920 never have 00:31:06.920 --> 00:31:07.799 joy and 00:31:07.799 --> 00:31:08.560 freedom and 00:31:08.560 --> 00:31:09.120 rest in 00:31:09.120 --> 00:31:09.680 our work 00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:10.779 until we 00:31:10.779 --> 00:31:11.560 realize that 00:31:11.560 --> 00:31:12.180 the deepest 00:31:12.180 --> 00:31:12.680 work, 00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:14.220 the work 00:31:14.220 --> 00:31:15.019 to redeem 00:31:15.019 --> 00:31:15.580 and to 00:31:15.580 --> 00:31:16.100 justify 00:31:16.100 --> 00:31:17.299 our souls 00:31:17.299 --> 00:31:18.099 has 00:31:18.099 --> 00:31:18.460 already 00:31:18.460 --> 00:31:18.779 been 00:31:18.779 --> 00:31:19.240 fully 00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:20.059 completely 00:31:20.059 --> 00:31:20.799 accomplished 00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:21.220 and 00:31:21.220 --> 00:31:22.039 finalized 00:31:22.039 --> 00:31:22.339 in 00:31:22.339 --> 00:31:22.680 Jesus. 00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:24.859 And so 00:31:24.859 --> 00:31:25.480 what Jesus 00:31:25.480 --> 00:31:26.379 does is 00:31:26.379 --> 00:31:26.960 he calls 00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:28.440 us to 00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:28.839 come to 00:31:28.839 --> 00:31:29.200 him. 00:31:31.579 --> 00:31:32.359 Come to 00:31:32.359 --> 00:31:33.000 me all 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:33.500 you who 00:31:33.500 --> 00:31:34.000 are weary 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:35.000 and burdened 00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:36.720 and I 00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:37.139 will give 00:31:37.139 --> 00:31:37.740 you rest. 00:31:38.379 --> 00:31:39.220 Take my 00:31:39.220 --> 00:31:39.960 yoke upon 00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:40.379 you and 00:31:40.379 --> 00:31:40.839 learn from 00:31:40.839 --> 00:31:41.220 me for 00:31:41.220 --> 00:31:41.519 I am 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:42.059 gentle and 00:31:42.059 --> 00:31:42.480 humble in 00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:43.460 heart and 00:31:43.460 --> 00:31:43.759 you will 00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:44.339 find rest 00:31:44.339 --> 00:31:44.720 for your 00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:45.159 souls. 00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:46.200 for my 00:31:46.200 --> 00:31:46.840 yoke is 00:31:46.840 --> 00:31:48.080 easy and 00:31:48.080 --> 00:31:48.640 my burden 00:31:48.640 --> 00:31:49.420 is light. 00:31:50.519 --> 00:31:51.220 He offers 00:31:51.220 --> 00:31:52.880 us deep 00:31:52.880 --> 00:31:54.019 deep rest 00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:55.740 because he 00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:56.200 took our 00:31:56.200 --> 00:31:56.620 burden. 00:31:57.759 --> 00:31:58.220 A rest 00:31:58.220 --> 00:31:58.759 that's so 00:31:58.759 --> 00:31:59.700 deep that 00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:00.640 your world 00:32:00.640 --> 00:32:01.259 can move 00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:02.100 into chaos. 00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:03.540 Your 00:32:03.540 --> 00:32:04.060 workplace, 00:32:04.420 --> 00:32:05.080 your vocation 00:32:05.080 --> 00:32:05.480 can move 00:32:05.480 --> 00:32:05.960 into chaos 00:32:05.960 --> 00:32:06.400 and yet you 00:32:06.400 --> 00:32:06.779 can still 00:32:06.779 --> 00:32:07.500 have rest. 00:32:09.420 --> 00:32:09.779 He was 00:32:09.779 --> 00:32:10.360 crushed for 00:32:10.360 --> 00:32:10.940 our sin, 00:32:11.060 --> 00:32:11.640 he shouldered 00:32:11.640 --> 00:32:12.200 our burden. 00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:13.900 So how 00:32:13.900 --> 00:32:14.640 do we know 00:32:14.640 --> 00:32:15.040 that we 00:32:15.040 --> 00:32:15.640 are truly 00:32:15.640 --> 00:32:16.320 resting in 00:32:16.320 --> 00:32:16.700 the finished 00:32:16.700 --> 00:32:17.240 work of 00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:19.540 his redemption 00:32:19.540 --> 00:32:19.940 and not 00:32:19.940 --> 00:32:20.280 just his 00:32:20.280 --> 00:32:20.800 creation? 00:32:23.620 --> 00:32:24.680 Well, for 00:32:24.680 --> 00:32:25.200 a start we 00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:25.600 can take 00:32:25.600 --> 00:32:26.280 time off. 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:28.700 We can 00:32:28.700 --> 00:32:32.540 stop and 00:32:32.540 --> 00:32:33.240 we commune 00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:33.800 with him. 00:32:36.800 --> 00:32:37.780 If we do 00:32:37.780 --> 00:32:38.460 not stop 00:32:38.460 --> 00:32:39.040 from all 00:32:39.040 --> 00:32:39.380 of our 00:32:39.380 --> 00:32:41.080 work to 00:32:41.080 --> 00:32:41.759 be with 00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:42.340 God, 00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:42.379 God, 00:32:43.179 --> 00:32:44.319 it's one 00:32:44.319 --> 00:32:44.579 of the 00:32:44.579 --> 00:32:45.359 first signs 00:32:45.359 --> 00:32:45.899 that we 00:32:45.899 --> 00:32:46.659 do not 00:32:46.659 --> 00:32:47.000 have 00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:47.599 spiritual 00:32:47.599 --> 00:32:48.199 rest in 00:32:48.199 --> 00:32:48.679 Jesus. 00:32:51.279 --> 00:32:52.019 Our 00:32:52.019 --> 00:32:52.679 experience 00:32:52.679 --> 00:32:53.480 of rest 00:32:53.480 --> 00:32:54.399 is 00:32:54.399 --> 00:32:55.500 proportionate 00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:56.359 to our 00:32:56.359 --> 00:32:57.019 trusting in 00:32:57.019 --> 00:32:57.319 him. 00:32:58.799 --> 00:32:59.439 Our 00:32:59.439 --> 00:33:00.259 wholehearted 00:33:00.259 --> 00:33:01.000 trust 00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:02.199 brings rest 00:33:02.199 --> 00:33:02.619 to our 00:33:02.619 --> 00:33:03.459 souls in 00:33:03.459 --> 00:33:03.959 all of 00:33:03.959 --> 00:33:04.740 its divine, 00:33:05.339 --> 00:33:05.679 cosmic, 00:33:05.939 --> 00:33:06.579 and ideal 00:33:06.579 --> 00:33:07.199 dimensions. 00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:10.259 as the 00:33:10.259 --> 00:33:10.500 great 00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:10.819 Saint 00:33:10.819 --> 00:33:11.380 Augustine 00:33:11.380 --> 00:33:11.759 said, 00:33:12.799 --> 00:33:13.360 our hearts 00:33:13.360 --> 00:33:13.900 are restless 00:33:13.900 --> 00:33:15.080 until they 00:33:15.080 --> 00:33:15.680 find rest 00:33:15.680 --> 00:33:16.180 in God. 00:33:17.920 --> 00:33:18.559 Life 00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:19.400 apart from 00:33:19.400 --> 00:33:20.360 Jesus is 00:33:20.360 --> 00:33:20.980 constant 00:33:20.980 --> 00:33:21.680 striving, 00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:23.480 and we 00:33:23.480 --> 00:33:24.160 will remain 00:33:24.160 --> 00:33:25.559 restless no 00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:26.200 matter what 00:33:26.200 --> 00:33:27.080 we obtain 00:33:27.080 --> 00:33:28.400 or what we 00:33:28.400 --> 00:33:29.500 attain in 00:33:29.500 --> 00:33:30.120 this world. 00:33:30.119 --> 00:33:32.439 And so 00:33:32.439 --> 00:33:33.239 Jesus calls 00:33:33.239 --> 00:33:33.539 you, 00:33:34.939 --> 00:33:35.619 the weary, 00:33:36.379 --> 00:33:37.139 the burdened, 00:33:37.359 --> 00:33:38.119 to come to 00:33:38.119 --> 00:33:38.500 him and 00:33:38.500 --> 00:33:39.239 receive the 00:33:39.239 --> 00:33:39.679 gift of 00:33:39.679 --> 00:33:40.039 rest. 00:33:40.679 --> 00:33:41.319 His deepest 00:33:41.319 --> 00:33:42.259 heart towards 00:33:42.259 --> 00:33:43.379 you is not 00:33:43.379 --> 00:33:44.199 to lump you 00:33:44.199 --> 00:33:44.739 with more 00:33:44.739 --> 00:33:45.159 work. 00:33:45.919 --> 00:33:46.500 His deepest 00:33:46.500 --> 00:33:47.259 heart towards 00:33:47.259 --> 00:33:47.619 you is 00:33:47.619 --> 00:33:48.239 gentleness 00:33:48.239 --> 00:33:49.639 and humility 00:33:49.639 --> 00:33:51.059 and rest. 00:33:52.339 --> 00:33:52.939 Come, 00:33:54.359 --> 00:33:55.000 follow 00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:55.539 Jesus, 00:33:56.419 --> 00:33:56.679 treasure 00:33:56.679 --> 00:33:57.239 Jesus, 00:33:57.839 --> 00:33:58.319 and find 00:33:58.319 --> 00:33:58.739 rest for 00:33:58.739 --> 00:33:59.299 your souls. 00:34:00.119 --> 00:34:01.119 Amen.