The Daily Word of Righteousness

Three Aspects of the Rest of God, #6

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. (John 15:4—NIV)

There is a daily rest that brings us into the larger, eternal rest. Nothing can be accomplished by us until we learn to abide in the Lord Jesus. Apart from Him we can do nothing. In fact, He Himself is the perfect Representation of the rest. Christ is the rest of God! When we have Christ we have the rest of God, but we have to work out the manifestation of that rest during the tumult and confusion of our life on earth.

God's finished work.

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. (Hebrews 4:3)

"The works were finished from the foundation of the world."

God made the physical universe in six days. The Lamb of God was slain from the beginning. The elect were chosen from the foundation of the world.

My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. (Psalms 139:15,16)

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5)

History was envisioned in advance from the creation of the universe through to the coming down to earth of the new Jerusalem. If this were not true the Book of Revelation could not have been written.

Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. (Acts 15:18)

The work was finished in six days. Now God is resting. This does not mean God is tired, it means He has ceased from His works. We are encouraged to cease from our own works and enter the rest of God.

Before the physical universe was created there was an awesome rebellion against God on the part of the angels. God took some preliminary steps to deal with the rebels. However their final judgment and assignment to the flames has not occurred as yet.

Being the wise Creator and Father that He is, God developed a comprehensive plan that would make an eternal end of rebellion; establish the Righteous One, the Word, Christ, as the Head of the works of God's hands; bring forth a multitude of sons in the image of Jesus to serve as a Wife of the Lamb and the Body of Christ; give Christ and His brothers nations of people for their inheritance; and establish all of this in an environment of never-ending love, peace, and joy.

In keeping with this comprehensive plan God created the heavens and the earth with which we are familiar. God set in motion the wisdom and power that would bring into being every detail of His vision. Then God rested, that is, He ceased working. God invites each believer to enter His rest, to watch with Him as the vision unfolds.

To be continued.