Enter Into His Spiritual Rest - Hebrews 1-4

Hebrews 3:19 - 4:2 (ESV)

So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.

When Jesus was on the earth He said the following to His disciples and those that were following Him and listening to His teaching:

Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The Apostle John, in the book of The Revelation, wrote the following as he heard it in his vision about heaven:

Revelation 14:13 (ESV)

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

The fact that Jesus came to give us rest is of no dispute.  Mankind tries to set up their life to find times of rest and times where they ceases from the labor.  But, they tend to focus that rest on physical well being.  There is no doubt that the physical well being part of rest is certainly implied in the above passages.  But, what Jesus actually came to give us was spiritual rest.  We are to rest from our labors to save ourselves and to make ourselves holy, because it is the High Priestly role of Jesus to do that for us. That is the theme of the book of Hebrews.   Jesus is the High Priest that sacrificed Himself for us that we might enter into His rest.  This rest is not one of activity, or of geographical change of location, and/or change of daily schedule.   This rest does not involve a pillow and a sleep machine.   This rest involves putting our faith in the work that Jesus did by sacrificing Himself and shedding His blood for our sins.  That allows us to enter into spiritual and physical rest.  We can rest assured that our sins have been forgiven and our lives declared righteous in His acts of obedience to the Father.   This “good news” came to the nation of Israel, but they failed to mix it with faith.    They heard the message but it did not benefit them because it was not mixed with a belief, a faith, that Jesus was the redeemer for their sins.   We can enter into that rest when we allow the finished work of Jesus to secure our rest.   He came to ease our burden and take care of the load of sin in our lives and to give us a righteousness that endures.