"Now we who have believed
enter that rest, just as God has said, ‘So I declared on oath in my anger, “They
shall never enter my rest.”’ And yet his works have been finished since the
creation of the world." (Heb 4:3)
Real rest cannot be found
based solely on our own efforts. No one I
have met was ever able to boast that they had achieved complete rest in their
lives. Instead it seems that
calamity is mostly the norm in this world. Rest
seems so close, so easily to obtain, but more often than not it quickly flees
away.
One thing that I have
discovered is that rest is only available to those who have faith, or as the
book of Hebrews describes: “we who have believed enter that rest”. A rest out of
this world, only made possible by the merits of Jesus Christ (See Matthew
11:28).
Adversity will still rise
during our lifespan and will try to shake us in our faith, but when standing
steadfast and trusting solely in our Maker, we will remain unfazed in His rest.
After all, Jesus promised that He would
guide us in all things. Why worry,
when we have the Almighty One on our side? Didn’t
God guarantee us that "He (Jesus) is able to help those who are being tempted"
(Heb 2:18b)?
In October, 1862, Private
Pliny Fisk White joined Company E, 14th Vermont Infantry, and
officially became part of the Civil War in the United States.
He had an unfortunate turn of events on
July 3 at Gettysburg. His right arm
was completely shattered by a shell and it had to be amputated.
A simple procedure we may think, but not so in those days.
Private White was well
cared for and was recuperating nicely. Everyone
was sure he would go home soon. But
even with all of the excellent care, the unexpected happened: Pliny, 25 years of
age, died at 10:00 in the morning, on August 5, 1863.
He left behind a grieving widowed mother and younger siblings.
A nurse named Francis
Bell, who had tended the dying young man, wrote the following note to his mom:
“[Pliny] desired the minister assigned here to pray with him. It was done, and
afterward as I talked with him on the subject of religion, he seemed to regret,
as we often do, that he had not been able to live better since he had been a
soldier...Jesus was precious to his soul, and he was reconciled to his lot, so
amenable and good that we almost envied him his happiness.”
How could this be?
Pliny was dying, yet he was completely happy, totally at rest.
He met the worst calamity that could ever happen to anyone with a smile.
Why? Because he had faith in
the One who had promised him eternity!
Amidst Pliny’s belongings
at the time of his last battle, a letter was discovered, written to Lemira, a
female friend. “My Dear Lemira. The chances are very favorable that today we
shall go into battle . . . I am ready and willing to go into battle and trust myself
in the hands of Him who is our only trust. Though I do not fear, yet it may be
that if I go into battle this may be the last time I shall write to you . . . I
would like to see you but as I cannot I thought just a word would be better than
nothing. I love you as ever and think of you often, and if we meet no more on
earth, I hope I shall be worthy to meet you where there will be no more
parting.”
Only faith in our Heavenly
Father can give such assurances.
Pliny went to battle in complete inner rest, as he knew that no matter the
outcome, he had nothing to fear.
Do we truly believe as
this young man, far away from family and friends, who died peacefully?
If not, we still have time to getting to know the One who matters the
most in our lives. Let us come to
Him and we will be refreshed by His presence. "Whoever believes in me, as
Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." (John
7:38)
We, too, can experience
such rest amidst adversities!
Rob Chaffart
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