Three Rests

by Webster, G. S. | Category: For Young Believers | Nov 1954

Often did the multitudes follow the Lord Jesus both to hear His words and to see His works. The testimony of some who saw and heard was, "We never saw it on this fashion" (Mark 2.12), and "never man so spake"(John 7.46).

As the Lord looked upon them, He was moved with compassion. He saw them as sheep without a shepherd, weighed down with burdens that were grievous to be borne, unto whom the Lord said,

" Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11.28).

Beloved young believers, this wondrous Person has forgiven us our sins and sent us on our way rejoicing. John Bunyan could speak of Christian coming to the Cross, and saying:

"Thus far did I come laden with my sins,

Nor could aught ease the grief that I was in,

Till I came hither. What a place is this

Must here be the beginning of my bliss?

Must here the burden fall from off my back?

Must here the strings that bound it to me crack?

Blest Cross Blest Sepulchre blest rather be

The Man that there was put to shame for me."

Having found rest from our burdens Christ now says,

" Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11.29, 30).

Having taken our burden of sins, He now gives us another burden, which is light indeed, but which may be for the souls of others. Having received rest from our labour, we now get rest through our labour. Beloved young reader, where are you labouring, and to what end? We are indeed thankful for the precious word in Mark 9.40, "For he that is not against us is for us." But Christ could also say, "He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth " (Matthew 12. 80).

Jonathan loved David and was all for him. He knew that David one day would occupy the throne, and Jonathan believed he would sit next to David. But it was not to be. It makes sad reading that when David arose and departed to be hunted as a partridge upon the mountains, Jonathan went into the city. While he was all for David, he was not with David in the day of his rejection. And when David did reign, Jonathan alas, had lost his life with Saul, his father, on Mount Gilboa! David was chosen because his heart was right with God. When he came to the throne he enjoyed a rest from persecution, though many years of warfare lay before him; But he yearned for one thing above all else:

"One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in His temple" (Psalm 27.4).

While heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain God, yet it pleases Him to take up His abode with men in His house, where men may enjoy God's rest (see Isaiah 66.1). The kind of men He looks to are those who are poor, and of a contrite spirit, and that tremble at His word (Isaiah 66.2). He speaks very fully of His rest in Hebrews 3.4., and the God-fearing man will take heed, lest a promise being left of entering into His rest, he should seem to have come short of it. Those who came out of Egypt with Moses, failed to enter into God's rest in relation to the land of promise, the place of God's choice, through disobedience.

Let us, therefore, give diligence to enter into that rest, that no man fall after the same example of disobedience (Hebrews 4.11).

If God has a house today (and we are assured that He has) the godly man or woman should not be content until he or she is found there.

Webster, G. S. | Nov 1954
For Young Believers