Let us labor to enter into His rest

I believe that God created the world on which we live and it is a BEAUTIFUL place.  But I've never really pondered much about HOW he did it.  Maybe I've been influenced too much by the stories of the Greek and Roman Gods, but I've always kind of pictured God resting on a lounge chair and just casually waving his hands and commanding the elements and "voila" the earth was created.  (I told you I've never really thought about it!)  

But this morning as I was reading Hebrews 4 it suddenly dawned on me that creating the world must have been A LOT of work.  After all, when God was finished He needed to "rest".  That doesn't sound like He was just casually waving a hand or two.  It sounds like he worked  for 6 LONG days and didn't stop until everything was finished and pronounced "good".  

I believe that He wants me to do the same.  My time here on earth is in reality VERY short (only 2 1/2 hours in God's time!).  I need to work diligently and tirelessly until my mission is finished and "pronounced good".  And to remind me of His infinite mercy He allows me to follow his pattern:  I work six LONG days and then rest - not "lounging" on the couch" but spending the seventh day totally focused on Him; renewing my spirit and strengthening my soul.

As Paul reminds us..."Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest..." Heb 4:11. 

To Torment and Afflict "Man"

Half of my childhood was spent living on my grandparent's farm.  There were a total of 6 families living there at the time.  I think it was probably hard for the adults, but as kids we LOVED it.  There was always someone to play with and so many places to explore.  Then after a fued between some of the family, everyone moved (except my grandparents and great aunt and uncle - my grandpa's brother and my grandma's sister who happened to marry each other - don't ya just love small towns!) 
Growing up on a farm helped me learn to work hard.  My first paying job (around 10 or 11 yrs old) was "walking beans."  For you non-farm folks, that means walking up and down each row and pulling the weeds (this was obviously before Round-Up-Ready beans were developed!)  It involved getting up before the sun (around 4 am), riding my bike out to the farm (sometimes as far as 15 miles), and then walking and pulling weeds till it was too hot to move (around 1-2 pm).  It was hard work, but the pay was good.  I made $5.00 an hour (gasp! - but that was about 3 dollars more than minimum wage at that time - okay now I am feeling old!) 
I worked that job every summer until I was old enough to get a "real" job.  I have to say that I completely understand the punishment God gave Adam (and the rest of us) - "and the earth shall bring forth thistles, briars, and noxious weeds to torment and afflict man..."  Weeds are definately an affliction, but I am thankful for the opportunity I had to learn to work hard and for the wonderful satisfaction you feel when you look back on a field and see no more weeds.  As usual, Heavenly Father knew exactly what He was doing.