The Lord offers us as descendants of Adam and Eve, rest from all our labors ( Matthew 11:28-29; Revelation 14:13). Genesis 3, reveals that after Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God, they lost their place of rest with God in the Garden of Eden. They were cursed with having to labor physically and spiritually. Physically, Eve would have to labor with bringing forth children; and Adam would toil with the earth to eat. Both would age and die (Hebrews 9:27). Spiritually, both were dead, being separated from God by their sins (Ephesians 2:1).
God freed us as their descendants from the curse and burden of sin, whoever repents and believes in the sacrificial atoning death of his sinless Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23; 6:23; John 3:16).
THE LORD OFFERS REST FROM ALL OUR LABORS
Jesus said: “Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…and you will find rest for you souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). Although all have sinned, since Adam and Eve, God offers us forgiveness for all our sins through Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23; 6:23). He sent his only begotten Son from heaven to save us from the curse of sin (Isaiah 53:5; John 3:16). Jesus toiled in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane for strength to obey the Father’s will to die an agonizing death on the cross our sins–even as his disciples were exhausted.
The Lord gives us rest from the guilt and burden of sins when we repent of our sins and believe in his atonement for our sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38).
Furthermore, he says, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord…they will rest from all their labor, for their deeds will follow them” (Revelation 14:13).
WE BECOME WILLING WORKERS FOR THE LORD
Freed from being a slave to sin by the Lord, our heart’s desire should be to obey and willing work for him. We realize we are saved by grace and not of works or anything that we do (Ephesians 2:8). We should gladly work to please the Lord who loves us enough to have died for us while we were yet sinners. We ought to aspire to be like our Lord who always pleased our heavenly Father in what the Lord did (John 8:29; Romans 8:29;).
We should happily obey the Lord’s command to go into all the world to preach the good news that Jesus Christ saves to the uttermost all who come to him (Mark 16-15; Hebrews 7:25). And God makes our work for him easier by giving us the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us. The Holy Spirit guides and empowers us to obey and work for our Lord (John 14:16; Acts 1:8).
RESTING FROM ALL OUR LABORS
We can take comfort in the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ that we will rest from all our labors when he comes to take us to be with him in heaven forever (Revelation 14:13; Rev 21:4; John 14:3).
