“…And you shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 11:29
Dear Ones:
When Jehu was anointed by the Lord to be king over Israel, it was at a time of great corruption. Ahab had been killed, and Jezebel reigned in his place, though her son was officially the king. She had been responsible for the killing the Lord’s servants, the prophets. Jehu, embracing fully his calling, met Joram, the son of Ahab, who had come to meet him. Joram asked: “Is it peace, Jehu?” Jehu responded, “What peace, so long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?” (2 Kings 9:22) What is the point of this narrative, with regard to “rest,” or peace? It is simply that there is NO peace for the wicked. God is the God of peace, and only when we are right with Him does He give peace, His peace.
In the book of Hebrews, we read: “Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” (Heb.4:10) What does the Lord mean by “laboring to into rest…?” When Joshua and the people of Israel crossed the Jordan river to enter into the land of promise, it was declared to be a land of rest, of peace. Standing in their way was not only the city of Jericho with its king, but at least fifteen other kings who reigned in Canaan, none of which was willing to give up their land without a struggle. It is one thing to be “delivered from Egypt, and the domination of Pharaoh,” (…a picture of Satan’s domination over us…); it is quite another to truly take possession of our inheritance IN CHRIST, that crossing of the Jordan and possessing the land. Is it an easy thing to do? No. It will require effort, commitment, devotion on our part, by the Spirit, to learn the truth of our union with Christ, and then appropriate Christ for every need. It is truly a “working out of our salvation with fear and trembling,” not a paralyzing fear, but an overwhelming disposition where we are in holy awe of God’s dealings with and through us.
What are the possibilities? They are certainly beyond “…what we could ask or think, according to the POWER that worketh in us.” (Eph, 3:20) The measure of our experience of the rest (peace) in “the land of promise,” is the measure of our faith. That measure of faith is dependent upon the vision that we have of Christ, and the knowledge of the truth concerning His work of redemption. Paul unveils the last element to know this “God of peace” in the land of promise. It is that of prayer…specific prayer. He prays: “…that He (the Father) would grant you,…to be strengthened by His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts BY FAITH.” (3:17) The truth of the gospel, coupled with the quickening power of the Spirit of God in the seeking heart, will result in being able to overcome the obstacles to faith, to enter into His rest, the experience of His peace in an ever-increasing measure.
Dear Father, give us grace to “labor” to enter into Your rest, that rest and peace which Christ gives. Strengthen our hearts to trust Thee fully according to Thy word, that the world may see, and know that Thou art God…the one and true God for this time, and all generations. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad