Month 2000

“Come to Me all you who labour and are heavy-laden,
and I WILL GIVE YOU REST!!” (Mt 11:28)

[8 of 8]

here is this promised REST?! This is the question only Faith can answer. For all such explanations are part of the “Mystery of Godliness” (1 Tim 3:16); and well beyond the scope of this world’s understanding and intellect. The fact is that the only true and lasting “REST” is safely hid in the Divine Nature of the Father of Love; His Spirit of Truth; and His only begotten Christ, the Prince of PEACE! The only access to these is UNION and COMMUNION! From birth to death man’s life consists of an ascent, a peak, and a descent. Consider the great similarities between our beginning and our ending. Newborns emerge from earthy wombs; the aged enter tombs of earth!! Both Infants and very elderly must struggle to stand upright. But what of the mid-life years? What of the middle man who is past puberty but has not yet declined to decrepitude? Despite infatuation with his own virility , the feet of this one are nonetheless set upon a predestinated course with death! Lust made him shed the innocence of his youth; then folly blinded him to the inevitable loss of his own human potency. At this zenith of man’s lust and vigor, he is convinced of his own mortality. What vanity! Then one day, in God’s time, this soul becomes aware that HE HAS NO REST! He in constant high stress about things over which He has no control. He endures a quiet drone of dread and fury that grip tightly when he cannot get his own way! Suddenly ‘his will’ is confronted by Supreme Will; and conflict arises in his heart between desperately wanting to REST in His Love and surrender his little world to the Creator and Sustainer of the whole univers; and a mad desire to REMAIN OUT OF CONTROL in His own self-deceived life! What vexation! Now hear this well! God led me to a devotional book I hadn’t read for several years for a fitting “Amen” to this series.

“To him that overcomes, I will give…a white stone! And in that stone there is written anew name no man knows except him that receives it.” (Rev. 2:17) “OVERCOMERSMUST SACRIFICE ALL THINGS FOR THE LORD! THEY SACRIFICE THELOVE, FELLOWSHIP AND APPROVAL OF ALL OTHER BEINGS, if need be, to retain the love and favor of the Lord!! It is our firm belief this test is approaching closer and closer to the Lord’s consecrated people, and it behooves each one of us to remember that this is one of the elements of our trial, Therefore we must learn to set our affections on heavenly things; mortify (deaden) all such affections toward earthly beings and things that might bring these into competition with our Lord in our affections, service, etc. “The apostles...went everywhere preaching the Word.” (Acts 8:4) Some dear Christian people make the mistake of preaching sermons on sociology, or the beauties of nature, or the things of this world; while others dabble continually with errors and errorists. Such things may have some time and place in connection with a true message; but all who serve the Lord must ever remember we are commissioned to preach the Gospel of Christ ONLY. Christ and his Word constitute “The Light that came into our minds— which we are to let shine for the blessing of others. The darkness hates the Light and battles against the Light; but the Light is to keep on shining. Therefore, Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Mt 5:16) But the Light of Christ is not only a message we bear upon our lips, it is also the influence which emanates from our daily lives. More and more we are being convinced that the Will of the Lord is that His message shall be borne by those who are pure of heart. Therefore “Be ye clean, you who bear the message of the Lord’s house.” In conclusion, “Jesus said, I thank You, O Father, the Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the (worldy) wise and prudent and have revealed them to Your babes. Even so, Father, You did this because it seemed good in Your sight. All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man can know the Son, but the Father; neither can any man know the Father, but the Son, and also to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him!” (Mt 11:25) And so “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you REST. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. And My yoke is easy, and my burden is light!” (Mt 11:29-30) Remember, O vain man of flesh, “A man’s heart devises his way; but the LORD directs his STEPS!” (Pr 16:9)

WE ARE NOW ABOUT TO ENTER OUR SEVENTH DAY!
THIS MEANS WE ARE SOON TO ENTER OUR REST!
THEREFORE PRAISE HIM ALL YE SAINTS! Amen!