Labor to Enter His Rest

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

In the last two weeks, I have begun to learn what it means to "labor" or work diligently to rest, i.e. to believe God, to take God at His Word that He has indeed taken care of everything in my life.

The initial context, or the account in the Old Testament which reveals the type, refers to the Promised Land, and the moment when the Israelites had arrived at the border in Kadesh-barnea.

Instead of simply taking God at His Word, Moses sent in 12 spies. For forty days, they searched the land, but after their tourney in the Promised Land, 10 gave an evil report:

"32And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. 33And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight." (Numbers 13: 32-33)

The report had a terrible effect on the Israelites:

"1And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night." (Numbers 14:1)

Instead of taking God at His Word, they believed the Timid Ten. Such unbelief. God told Moses that none of them--except for the two spies who gave a good report--would enter the Promised Land (Numbers 14: 20-24)

They wouldn't believe!

The writer of Hebrews outlines what happened:

"1Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." (Hebrews 4:1-2)

They didn't believe! They went with the evil report.

In fact, in our lives, we will find evil reports abounding around us, both from friends as well as enemies.

We need to accept that there are going to be troubles facing us in our lives:

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation ..."

Jesus answers:

" ... but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

He has given us His peace (John 14:27).

He just asks of us one thing:

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." (John 14:1)

Now, our hearts will have troubles pressed in.

How do we respond?

"6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7)

Peter invites us to keep casting our cares to Him. Every time there is a care that tries to afflict your heat, cast it to Him!

That is the labor as we enter into God's rest!

It's a challenge, but it's worth it--a work of not working, but believing on Him whom the Father has sent to us (John 6:29)