Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the good news [of salvation] proclaimed to us, just as they did [covenant of inheritance of Promised Land]; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. (Hebrews 4:1-2 NIV)
The process of entering the eternal rest of God begins when we are still here on earth. We learn from our parents through their languages of love. We are clothed and cared for in the love of our parents. The grace of observing what our parents are doing is given to us and most of the time we mimic what we see them practicing. We learn from the societies around us and follow the patterns and culture of the ways of life around us in our speech, in the fashion apparel we wear. We find ourselves embedded in the culture of our environment whether good or bad. Also, we operate within and abide by the secular law imposed upon us by the secular governing authority. If we are obedient to secular authority we are described as law abiding citizens, but when the secular law is broken the person will be classified as a criminal. In the process as we journey on, we form our own unique brand of personalities with either good or evil characters, and with this, our own individual pattern of life is formed.
Inherently and alongside the journey of our lives, the grace of experiencing the exposition to the spiritual law of God is opened unto mankind. In this gracious journey, we heard about the good news of salvation—the redemption through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ who was crucified for us for the remission of our sins. The key that open every door we enter on earth is in our hands. The precious key is called ‘decision’. When we are guided by grace through faith in the word of God and we use the key of decision to yield ourselves unto the Lord and embrace the message of salvation and internalize the grace of faith. We will begin to relish in the abundant benefits of eternity in the presence of the Living God that comes with the package of salvation. Our Lord Jesus Christ says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
The end of life will surely come to every man on earth. One day we will be called to glory, after our death our spirit will return to Our Maker. The people that we left behind will bid us bye-bye and put an imprinted acronym R.I.P. on our tombstone. In reality of spiritual connotation, RIP could mean—Rest In Peace in the presence of God to the people that operated in the blessed will of God while on earth. “His Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.’ (Matthew 25:23) Conversely RIP could mean—Remain In Prison of the sinful life to the people that would not let go of sinful and evil characters of worldliness. The prison here is suggesting hell fire. “So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:49-50)
In order to secure an entrance into the rest of God, an individual choice and decision is required. A choice to partway with sinful worldliness and decision to take up the garment of salvation. “Jesus answered him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3 AMP) There is a clear requirement of choice and vivid decision making in the passage above for an individual to be spiritually transformed and be reborn through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ and become renewed in the newness of Christlike characters before one can become a candidate of the Kingdom of God. This is the effect of the process of redemption in the life of a believer. Being born again is like obtaining an approved entry visa before you can be permitted an entrance into a visiting nation’s border.
In addition to being born again, there is a requirement of choice to live an approved kingdom’s lifestyle in righteousness and holiness while we are still here on earth. “And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confident trust forever. Then my people will live in a peaceful surrounding, and in secure dwellings and in undisturbed resting places. (Isaiah 32:17-18 AMP) For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17) Prophet Jeremiah admonished us saying, “This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not listen.’” (Jeremiah 6:16 NIV)
Holiness is paramount and it is not negotiable in Christian journey. It is one of the principal requirement to enter into the rest of God. The first temple of God in Israel is a symbolism of holiness. The Ark of God which represent the presence of God with His people is holy. God commanded that the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all the items in the temple must be holy. The priests that were serving in the temple were made holy before they were spiritually qualified to serve God in the temple. That is why the Scripture admonished us to “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14 NIV)
We have provided insight about how we can enter into the rest of God and rest in peace therein. It is equally expedient to let people know the danger of remaining in the prison of ignorance. Anyone who lives on earth without reconciling with the Heavenly Father in repentance and fails to take advantage of the grace of salvation will remain in his spiritual imprisonment. “For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak?” (Hebrews 2:2-3) If one does not make peace with God on earth and reconcile with Him, there is no salvation or repentance after death. If living righteous and holy is a strange language for an individual on earth, there is no other lingua franca of unrighteous and unholiness in the kingdom of God
Prayer: Heavenly Father, let Your mercy and compassion prevail as I humbly plugged myself into your grace of salvation through faith. Endow me the humility to yield myself in obedience to Your words. Please Lord, while I am still here on earth, prepare me in righteousness and holiness and qualify me to enter into Your rest at last, in Jesus name, Amen.
