There Remains a Rest

 “again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:

“Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”

For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.”

Hebrews 4:7-8

Israel’s journey from Egypt to Mount Zion was completed after 400 years. When Joshua led the Israelites to the Promised Land, they were so slack and slow to possess the land (Josh. 13:1). They were more than content to dwell with their enemies, content to settle down peacefully in coexistence with their adversaries. They tried to find their own rest.

Four hundred years later, God spoke to David, “Today, after such a long time, I am still speaking about rest.” God looked for a man after His own heart, a man who would delight to do His will, a man who would lead His people into a true rest. God was speaking about conquering Mt. Zion, the mountain that Moses was referring to at the start of their journey (Ex. 15:17). In Psalm 132:13-14 it said, "For the Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for His dwelling place: This is My resting place forever, here I will dwell for I have desired it."

Today, God is still looking for people who want to enter His rest, people who are after His own heart, people who delight to do His will. We have our own journey from Egypt (which represents the world) to our spiritual Mt. Zion (which speaks of God's rest). We know we have entered God’s rest when we have totally ceased from our own works, motives, dreams, and plans, and when we enter into God’s peace.

We cannot rest now. We have to be diligent to reach our goal in Zion; all other ground is sinking ground. We cannot settle down in our spiritual plateau and be content with what we have right now. Do not compromise.

Let us allow the word of God to separate our soul and our spirit (Heb. 4:12). When we allow our soul to rule over us, we will lose our peace and be controlled by the circumstances around us. Our soul may give up during difficult trials, but when we allow our spirit to be in command, we will rise up and not faint even in the darkest circumstances.

Allow the word of God to discern our thoughts and the intents of our hearts. What is our motive? It will determine who finishes the race. Many are called, but few are chosen. Many who are first shall be last, and the last first.

Some of us may be in a spiritual plateau right now, and it is a very dangerous place for those who want to follow Christ. It will give us a false peace and security, and in it many have fallen asleep and were found content to settle down. Some have gone astray, and great was their fall.

Run the race and do not fall short of God’s rest! Let us move on from the elementary principles of God’s word into deeper truths and revelations, and let us fear Him that we will not come short of His purposes in us.