I remember seeing words like 'HEAVEN WILL NOT REST UNTIL I
SUCCEED" or "HEAVEN WILL NOT REST UNTIL I AM BLESSED". Which
ever way it is said or written, I really believe we need to understand which
age we are living in. The main reason many people are frustrated and some
living in false expectations is because they are placing the cart before the
horse.
By the finished work of Jesus on the cross heaven itself has
been brought to rest. God is at rest, Jesus is at rest. The writer of Hebrews
said about Jesus our High Priest
"Under the old agreement the priests stood before the altar
day after day offering sacrifices that could never take away our sins. 12 But
Christ gave himself to God for our sins as one sacrifice for all time and then
sat down in the place of highest honor at God’s right hand," (Hebrews 10:11,12)
Under the Old covenant no priest could rest because the work
had to be done continually. There was no perfection and the quest for it was
ongoing throughout generations.
Christianity is an invitation to enter God’s rest. We are
not going to influence God’s goodness by how well we can wrestle with him. As there
are many trying to wrestle down through their religious performance hoping to
weary God out to release his blessings on them. They want to take their cue
from Jacob in his wrestle with the angel.
We must remember that Jacob did not even win the wrestle
match as he ended up crippled. He lost the contest but God’s grace crowned the
loser as a Prince as his name was changed to Israel which means a prince with
God. God’s grace empowers losers and those who don’t qualify for God unreserved
goodness. At his weakest point when he ceased from his struggles then he
received the blessing he desired.
No one is hustling over there in heaven to make things
happen. Jesus' death has reconciled man to the favour of God. That is why He
prayed "let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" and
believe The Father has answered that prayer.
You are the one that needs to enter that rest for you to
enjoy His blessings. See Paul's advice: "Let us therefore fear, lest, a
promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come
short of it.... For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from
his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that
rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." Hebrews 4:1,10,11
One word we find appear over 250 times in the New Testament
is the word “Receive”. The major Greek word amongst others is “Lambano”. This
means to simply take. You can only take what is available. The finished work
has made available a life that is full of victory and abundance for anyone who
believes.
Jesus said in Matthew
11:28 "“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get
away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real
rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms
of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with
me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (The Message Version).
Your good and religious works will not buy you His blessings
because they have already been bought by the blood of the lamb.
Dearest your only effort is to cease from your toil and
enter heaven's rest so that grace will flow unceasingly into your life. Grace
to you.
