It is called eternal rest, but I wonder, how many have struggled enough to understand that rest, will they be able to tell the difference from what has been done here for Christ to what they expect is waiting for them?
One of the most prominent items that I notice in these days is the complaining of those who claim Christ as Lord, I will not say the saved, for I would not dishonor my brothers and sisters in Christ, and in some small way, that particular log is almost always present in each of us, but the amount of complaining seems to be growing exponentially. I know that we cannot in totality compare ourselves to the Lord Jesus, even though we are to be Christlike, and He knew for a fact why He was here, to die, but I cannot recall any incidences where He complained about the Romans ruling over the children of Jacob.
There are so many today, and not all of course, but many that are continuously complaining about their governments, are they evil, yes, are they worldly, oh yes, do they have their best interests at heart, or the peoples? I will let you decide, but how many people on crosses do you see lining the highways and byways. I must ask you this, is complaining in our nature, and if so, what are we to do with Philippians 2:14, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings.”
I have always attempted to balance that verse with, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” (Eph. 4:26) We are to be under the submission of those that the Lord has put in authority over us, and here is the line where complaining is crossed most often, and after it, action. Righteous indignation is a trait that all born-again believers should have, for the fear of the Lord is reverential trust and a hatred of evil. Many religious organizations have been born from just that one sentence. We are to submit to authority (Romans 13:1) yet we are to hate evil, (Psalm 97:10) now, when and where do we act against those that are in authority over us when they are evil.
I cannot answer this question for you, we are told to love our enemies, (Matt. 5:44) but when are we to stand against the evil if indeed the Lord God places every man into positions of authority. Nehemiah told the people to carry a trowel in one hand and a sword in the other, (Neh. 4:17) when Peter cut the ear off of that man, Christ put a stop to it, as He said, “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matt. 26:53) But He came to die.
When are we to fight and when are we to submit, when are we to enter into the battle, and when are we to lay down our arms. I have no answer, I only know what I would do if those I love were being threatened by the evil. “And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.” (1 Sam. 17:47) Does He use His servants, us, to fight some of those battles? We are not speaking of vengeance, that is only the Lords, (Romans 12:19) but attention should be paid to this letter, and in prayer and contemplation it would be wise to consider it at length, because we are indeed entering great days of evil.
