Two Kinds of Rest – Earthly Rest with God & Eternal rest with God

Hebrews 4:9-11

Through Christ we receive many spiritual blessings including a day of rest. In fact there are two kinds of rest – one we might call an earthly Sabbath - observed on a particular day, usually a Sunday, but technically should be a Saturday, and one that we might call a heavenly Sabbath – which is a true and lasting spiritual rest, an eternal rest, but so often we are busy about doing what is right in our own eyes, we miss the opportunity to enter into either rest. Hebrews 4:9 – 11 says that when you enter into God’s rest, you cease from doing your works; therefore strive to enter into that rest. God commands us to take a day of rest now and at some point He will call each of us to an eternal rest, but if we continue going our own way, we live a life of disobedience, doing what is right in our own eyes, and in doing so we may miss out on both our earthly and heavenly rest. We must relinquish the right to do what is right in our own eyes and be submitted to Christ. Recognize that the only valid activity that counts stems from the indwelling sovereignty of Christ.
Consider the Sabbath on earth when best observed and extend the idea to eternity, void of imperfection, and that would be heaven! The Sabbath is holy; so is heaven. It is a period of worship; so is heaven. It is for praise and for the contemplation of heavenly truth; so is heaven. The Sabbath is appointed that we may lay aside worldly cares and anxieties for a little season here; heaven that we may lay them aside forever.

Think about how we currently spend the Sabbath – in idleness; in business; in traveling; in sports & recreation; in light reading and conversation; in sleep; in visiting; in exercise; in lounging; in revelry – partying and dissipation – overindulgence – greed; in any and every way "except the right way;" in every way except in holy communion with God.

The psalmist wrote long after the days of Joshua; there is another rest, a state of blessedness, for the people of God; and this is the Gospel, the blessings it procures and communicates, and the eternal glory which it prepares for, and has promised to, genuine believers. As God finished his work, and then rested from it, so he will cause those who believe, to finish their work, and then to enjoy their rest. It is evident, that there is a more spiritual and excellent Sabbath remaining for the people of God, than that of the seventh day.

The"rest" in Heb 4:8 is rest from weariness, but the "rest" in Heb 4:9 is the nobler and more exalted "Sabbath" rest. The two ideas of "rest" combined, give the perfect view of the heavenly Sabbath. Rest from weariness, sorrow, and sin; and rest in the completion of God's new creation (Re 21:5). The whole renovated creation shall share in it; nothing will there be to break the Sabbath of eternity; and the Triune God shall rejoice in the work of His hands (Zep 3:17).