The Now and Not Yet

Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” (Revelation 14:12-13 ESV).

I’ve been exploring some of the ways we can find rest the last few days. I hope you have been able to follow along. Today I want us to look at the simple truth of our experience. While we all long for rest from the fatigue of living, it is often challenging to find it. We seem to be caught in the midst of what has come to be known as “the now and not yet.” God has placed the desire for rest in our souls, and he promises to fulfill it. The prophet declares, “I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish” (Jeremiah 31:25). However, if you’re like me, I really get tired of being in between the labor of life and rest promised. Life seems to be a war with no end in sight. That’s why you are often tired. Many soldiers, who experience the fierceness of combat, want to get out of it. That’s why you’re tempted to escape. That’s why you’re tempted to give up. Let me begin with the enjoinder to not give up. Here are some encouraging Scriptures for some of those battles that seem so endlessly defeating:  Don’t give up when that familiar sin, still crouching at your door after all these years, pounces again with temptation. The apostle says, No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13).  Don’t give up when you feel that deep soul weariness from long battles with persistent weaknesses. Again Paul says, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9).  Don’t give up when your long asked-and-sought-and-knocked-for prayers have not yet been answered. Jesus said, in the Parable of the Persistent Widow, that we can continue to pray to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. (Luke 18:1). The simple truth is that each moment, whether pressing in on us or releasing us to take another step is just a bit closer to that one glorious moment when we will receive real, eternal rest. Our call is to endurance! Let’s walk together!