Our Rest

by Hugh DeLong

Rest? Interesting that God has given the concept of rest in so many different ways. He rested from His labor of creating. He gave Israel the seventh-day rest, then the seventh-year rest, then even the fiftieth-year rest. Joshua brought them into the land (Joshua 1:13; 21:44).

Yet, that was not their rest, for there was yet for them the promise of a greater rest, a spiritual rest. Jesus therefore invited. “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

Being disciples of Jesus, we ‘are entering’ that rest. That can be understood in three tenses. We have entered in the sense that we became His disciples. We are entering. And we will enter when our earthly ‘labors’ are over. All of that for us is bound up in Jesus!

Thus, chapter 4 of Hebrews is a great encouragement to not grow weary. Notice all the “therefore’s” here:

• "Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience" (Hebrews 4:11).
• "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession"(Hebrews 4:14).
• "Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

For the disciples of Jesus: “And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, 'Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!' 'Yes,' says the Spirit, 'so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them'” (Revelation 14:13).