Rest

Rest

“For we who have believed do enter that rest . . . .” Heb. 4:3.

Peace and rest are not the same. When we have been justified by faith through Jesus’ blood, we have peace with God. From here we are to enter into rest.

We begin to experience rest when we, through the law, die to the law, and this continues and deepens as we constantly walk by faith.

In the beginning, God gives us knowledge and strength in abundance. Grace is lavished upon us with the effect that we believe that we actually possess what grace is making so living for us. This makes us strong and glorious in Christ. In Him we are honored. We begin to secretly admire ourselves by comparing ourselves with others who do not know as much as we do and who do not possess this power. Understanding how dangerous this is, God withdraws some of His grace from us. Our strength vanishes, and knowledge is no longer a help to us. We again become totally dependent on God and His grace. We are stripped of all our supports and refuges. In the midst of our peace we feel pain. It is as if we have been placed in a vice where God Himself turns the handle and decides how much we can bear. Our pride receives a blow, and we learn to no longer trust in ourselves. God is in control.

That is what the apostle is referring to when he says to the Corinthians: “We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!” God’s purpose and goal with us is that we die with Christ. He died for us, but now we are to die with Him. As long as we are strong and are being honored, we are far from death. But when weakness and helplessness set in, we lose our strength, honor and self-confidence. Christ died for us, but now His death becomes active in us. We approach the third witness, the witness of the blood. This is where we who have believed begin to enter into rest. In our full strength we had peace with God, but now we begin to experience rest.

This is how God deals with a person, even two or three times, to remove pride from him and to turn him from his own works. The result is that God’s works come forth—His peace and His rest.