the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
There remalneth therefore a rest to the people of God. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. Hebrews 4:9-11. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Revelation 7:16-17.
When the children of Israel were led through the wilderness, they were promised that they should enter into rest, namely, into the quiet possession of the land of Canaan. But when they disobeyed the voice of God and let themselves be deceived by evil desires and hardened their hearts against Him, God swore in His holy wrath, "They shall not enter into my rest. " He let them all die in the wilderness and led only their children and descendants into the promised land. Now St. Paul says,"We also have a land of promise, a Canaan; there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God," namely here the kingdom of God within us, and hereafter heaven, the kingdom of God in eternal glory. Into this land the Lord will lead us. In addition to this St. Paul urges emphatically (Hebrews 3:12 ff ), that we must not harden our hearts; we must not depart from the living God, nor be deceived through sin; we must not lose our participation in Christ but seek to preserve our first sure confidence steadfast to the end; we must not grow inactive, slothful, drowsy and cold; we must not become tired or frightened by tribulations, afflictions and struggles, or even desire from slothfulness to remain in the wilderness, not having the inclination to cut our way through the enemies in order to reach this true rest; we must not love the rest of the flesh too dearly. He exhorts us that none of us must retreat or fall behind or neglect to enter the eternal rest, the heavenly Canaan. For what does it benefit us to know of this rest, to have it preached to us, and even to write and speak about the kingdom of God, its time of advent, and the place and circumstances pertaining thereto? Knowledge benefits us nothing if we do not obey the voice of the Lord, if we do not watch and pray lest we fall according to the example of the Jews, and God again swear in His wrath, "They shall not enter into my rest. " Read and consider thoroughly the third and fourth chapters of the Epistle to the Hebrews.
Who would live alway away from his God?
Away from yon heaven, that blissful abode,
Where the rivers of pleasure flow o’er the bright plains,
And the noontide of glory eternally reigns:
Where the saints of all ages in harmony meet,
Their Savior and brethren transported to greet,
While the anthems of rapture unceasingly roll.
And the smile of the Lord is the feast of the soul.
