Hebrews 4:1

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.

In Chapter three the writer of Hebrews tells how the Israelites were not allowed to enter the land – the rest of God – because of their unbelief. Their unbelief was a lack of faith in God to give them the victory. The Israelites trusted God to get them out of Egypt, but did not trust him to give them the land He had promised.

They were children because God has chosen them. They did not enter into the close fellowship with God, they did not enter his rest, because they didn’t believe.

As the writer of Hebrews says, the offer still stands. He wants to be sure that none of them fall short of it. He is speaking of rest, not salvation. The “rest” is a stopping of one’s own efforts and “resting” or trusting totally in the power of God for every aspect of your life.

In a sense it is easy to trust Jesus to save your soul and bring you to heaven because it isn’t something you can see. But, how much do we trust him here and now with our day to day problems? I am not advocating a “name it and claim it” idea, because that tends to be telling God what to do. Rather, “resting” in God means to rely on Him to deliver you from your trials now as well as at the end of your life. Total trust also means that we also leave the details and outcome up to Him as well.

When the Children of Israel did finally enter the land, they won their first battle without even fighting as God gave them complete victory. In the second battle they were routed because they went by themselves as it were, not wanting to bother God. (See the first few chapters of Joshua.)

As the writer says, the offer of his rest still stands.