Ok, now what did You say?

The Bible is replete with countless paradoxes, it seems, and one which the Lord has recently brought to my attention is that of "diligent rest" (Hebrews 4:11). "Diligence," by definition, is marked by "persevering, painstaking effort," which seems diametrically opposed to any definition of "rest" that I can conceive. Nevertheless, in the kingdom of God, this paradox, like many others, breaks down completely, once the power of God is entered into the equation. Luke 18:27 sums up this point well.

Regarding Hebrews 4:11, and the verses following, I can do no better than quote it in its entirety. It says this:

" Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

The "same example of disobedience" to which the writer refers is that of the nation of Israel, as they failed to enter the Promised Land, because of their rebellion. We must strive earnestly, then, to enter the promised rest, which has been prepared for us by the Lord Jesus Himself (John 14:2). But, we don't do this in our own strength, do we? We've no power to accomplish what we must, and our strivings fail miserably. Rather, we weigh ourselves against the Word of God, allowing it to discern our thoughts and intents of the heart. Too often, we try to discern/distill what we would like to take from the Word, picking and parsing until it says nothing more than our own preconceived thoughts. Per Jeremiah 17:9, this is a dastardly plan, and patently flawed.

What shall we do, then? What hope do we have? Verse 13 of Hebrews 4 reminds us that "no creature is hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." He sees right through you. Try as you might, you cannot enter that rest by your own workings and yearnings. Lean wholly, then, upon the "great High Priest, Jesus the Son of God," since He lives always to intercede for the saints (Hebrews 7:25). Only then can we "come boldly to the throne of grace," obtaining mercy and finding grace in our time of need. Brothers and sisters, we are needy people. "I Need Thee Every Hour;" you know that song? How true it is!

So, yeah, go ahead and rest. Rest in Him, though, not your own laurels or self-satisfaction. Diligently strive to come before the Word, that your deeds may be exposed, and your faith driven to trust in His intercession, His perfected work, His supplanting of your grave failings. Here is where true rest is found; peaceful, conscience-clean, quiet rest.