The Wicked Work -- The Righteous Rest

"But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
 
"There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." (Isaiah 57: 20-21)

"No peace to the wicked. . ." It is interesting that unrest and wickedness are  so closely associated.

The writer of the book of Hebrews also outlines how not entering the rest laid out for us is wicked unbelief:

"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

"For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 9-11)

How do we escape from the wickedness of unrest, then? Through Jesus:

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11: 28)

Jesus Christ is our rest, and through Him we get this rest because He is our peace:

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" (Romans 5: 1)

We are not justified through Christ, but we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21).

Christ is our peace:

"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;"

Specifically, how did Christ accomplish this peace, breaking down the separation between us and God? Paul continues:

"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;"

Jesus not only died for all our sins (1 John 2: 2), but He also fulfilled the Law once and for all, ending its condemnation against us:

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;" (Colossians 2: 13-14)

The wicked rest because they feel that they are under judgment -- but all the judgment has been exhausted at the Cross. Now that we have received Christ Jesus in us -- who is our life (Colossians 3: 4)

It is a gross, wickedness, therefore, to run around trying to finish the work which Christ has already "Finished!" (John 19: 30) Don't live like the wicked: Rest in your righteous standing before God the Father!