A Rested Development

Hebrews 4:1-3 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. (2) For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. (3) For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. (KJV)  

Let us fear or give reverence to the fact that some fall short from entering into the rest of God because of simple unbelief. Call it a surrendering if you would, where you surrender your thoughts and cares unto the Lord and leave them there at the throne, then proceed to walk in the works of God that He personally ordained for you before the foundation of the world. Entering into His rest is not just something that takes place at the end of our walk when we receive the reward of inheritance, but rather it is a rest, an abode in the realm of God where we are no longer telling Him how we think things need to be done, but rather are now walking the path He has chosen for us before the foundation of the world.  

Isaiah 46:10-13 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (11) Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. (12) Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: (13) I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory. (KJV)  

The Lord’s counsel will stand, and has withstood the test of time. It will endure forever, and so will those that come into agreement with it. Declaring the end from the beginning; I compare that to buying a bag of seed from a store, they have a bright colorful picture on the package of the completed plant, what the seed will grow into. Now think of yourself in the same framework; God saw you personally before the foundation of the world, saw what He made was very good, which included you, and provided everything that was needed to make you picture perfect in His sight. So just like the package of seed we bought from the store, if you don’t take the time to plant and water the seed, and follow the instructions, then the end result will not be what was pictured. Rather than grow and mature in the things of the Lord many stay trapped in the realm of the flesh because of unbelief, believing more in the outward sight instead of allowing their inward vision to become enlightened to the completed work God did on their behalf.  

Philippians 1:6-11 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (7) Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. (8) For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. (9) And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; (10) That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; (11) Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. (KJV)  

Remember it is God that began that good work in you, and only He can perform it, which means to accomplish or bring it to a finish. Just like with the package of seed, He saw His creation within you and what it would take to bring it to a finish. Now the question is, will you allow Him to have His way with you so that you can grow up into Him in all things, and let this picture He had for you blossom and develop into a full grown mature Christian? This was Paul’s prayer for the people, not only to see them begin in the Lord but to continue to grow more and more in the knowledge of God, by no longer leaning to their own understanding and limited carnal thinking. I have seen many people over the years get all excited about someone giving their lives to the Lord and accepting His plan of salvation, but that is just the beginning folks. It’s not those that begin the race that receive the prize, it’s only those that endure to the end that will be saved and receive the reward of inheritance. In other words, many get a glimpse and a picture of what the Lord intended for them, but just like with the seed packages, how many will follow the instructions and allow the seed to grow to maturity in the image and likeness our Lord intended for it? God saw from the beginning the end result, and that everything He made was very good; but only those that are able to see themselves in this plan of salvation having their spiritual eyes enlightened will follow through to the end, and stay within the framework of God’s intended plan and purpose for their lives.  

Hebrews 11:1-3 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (2) For by it the elders obtained a good report. (3) Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (KJV)  

What framework are you operating in today? Are you still trying to conform to the things of this world, or are you allowing God to change and transform you into the things of His realm and framework by the renewing of your mind? Are you more concerned with how man portrays you and what is pleasing to people? Or are you seeing yourself more and more being changed into the image and likeness of God, bearing His resemblance, and allowing His picture perfect plan of salvation to develop? God runs a tight ship, and heaven is a high security area; and only those that have the proper identification will be allowed access into it. Some day when you leave this realm and enter into His presence you will need a picture ID to enter in, and only those that show God the picture He intended for them will be given access and allowed into their eternal inheritance. Only those that are able to show Him a spiritual ID with the family name and resemblance will be recognized, a rested development; all others will be rejected because of their lack of belief in His completed work, relying more on their own ways and thoughts which are empty and vain.  

God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord.