The concept of entering into God’s rest comes from Hebrews 3—4. What is this “rest” the Hebrew writer is talking about? How do we enter it? And how do we fail to enter it? The writer to the Hebrews begins his discussion of God’s rest in chapter 3, where he references the Israelites wandering in the desert. In giving them the land of Canaan, God had promised them that He would go before them and defeat all their enemies in order that they could live securely (Deuteronomy 12:9–10). All that was required of them was to fully trust in Him and His promises. However, they refused to obey Him. Instead, they murmured against Him, even yearning to go back to their bondage under the Egyptians (Exodus 16:3; 17:1–7; Numbers 20:3–13).
The kind of faith that enables us to enter into God’s rest is a faith that first demands that we rest from relying on our own works. Then the writer seemingly contradicts himself by telling us to make every effort:
For anyone who 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 their example of disobedience (Hebrews 4:10–11).
What this apparent paradox means is that this faith involves humbleness. By grace we don’t need to earn salvation and the promised eternal rest, we also “make every effort to enter that rest” by choosing to depend solely on God, to trust Him implicitly, to yield totally to the promises of God through the free grace of His salvation.
So how do we stop trusting ourselves? How do we place our full trust in God and His promises? We enter into God’s rest by first understanding our total inability to enter God’s rest on our own. Next, we enter God’s rest by our total faith in the sacrifice of Christ and complete obedience to God and His will.
Unlike the Israelites whose unbelief prevented them from entering the Promised Land, we are to enter God’s rest by faith in Him, faith which is a gift from Him by grace (Ephesians 2:8–9).
So may you, my brothers and sisters, know that Jesus invites you into this rest. Know that you can go there anytime and in any place. May this rest and the unforced rhythm of grace transform you.
Rest Assured
Enter the rest
So you will have more
Than you ever dreamed
Ever possible before
Enter the rest
Where suffering ends
The pain and the toil
Are forgotten friends
Enter my rest
Where the pasture is green
The quiet stream flows
Where peace is serene
Today enter my rest
Deep in you soul
Feel me beat your heart
So you become whole
For heaven is here
If you have eyes to see
Fix them on me
If you truly believe
Beautiful David.
Cheers Brother
Thanks for sharing on rest
Thanks for stopping by