Labor to Enter God's Rest

Hebrews chapters 3 and 4. This will be my short (hopefully) overview on the rest provided by God.

The Promised land was the rest of God for the Israelites. They did not enter into God's Promised land because of their unbelief. (3:12, 19 4:6 etc.)

How do we enter into the rest of God? Believe.

Hebrews 4:4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh [day] on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

God retired after 6 days of work! What a great plan!

Hebrews 4:9-10 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.

We enter in the rest of God by His example. Now, on to verse 11 before I type on this.

v11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

But didn't verse 10 say to cease from works and now verse 11 says to labour for rest, which is an oxymoron in itself? Oh my goodness! What does this mean?

You cannot trust in your works and God's promises at the same time. You either cease from your works, and rest in God, or you trust in your works, and depart from God.

So then, because we find it so hard to cease from our works, it is a labor to cease from our works. That's why verse 11 says to labor to rest. Because you cannot rest in God if you work in yourself.

The issue is about belief. Believing in the Lord will keep you in perfect peace. If you're not at peace, you're not trusting God. If you're not at peace, you're not trusting God. Ouch. Isaiah said it first. :)

If you're not trusting God, what are you trusting? YOUR OWN WORKS. Stop it. That takes action. That is labor. Labor to cease from your own works, as God did from His, to enter into his rest. You can rest or you can have unbelieve. You can have the finished work of the cross, or your own righteousness. You can have PEACE which passes your understanding, or you can try to figure life out by yourself.

I could go on and on on what you can have. Life or death. Blessings or curses. Love or Fear. Fruit of the Spirit or Lusts of the Flesh.

You need to trust God. He loves you so much. As a sweet friend likes to put it "It's fine. It's not even a big deal."

I love you guys. Please follow God's example and retire. You won't be forsaken. God takes care of his creations. He loves you. Have a good day.