Rest
One day during the writing of this lesson events were swirling hard hard around me and I was not liking them. I wanted the events to wrap up. To my imagination came approaches that might obviate the swirl and give more rest. No solutions presented themselves. Unfortunately I was little filled with memories of this 13th verse.
The Holy Spirit, God’s third person who comes alongside us, spoke that great theme of rest. It is written upon our hearts and we desire to rest from our troubles. It will come. Its timing is not ours to produce, but God’s and he will do so when the time is right.
Reward
The 13th verse wraps up with the following phrase: “…their deeds will follow them.” See, the things done in the body after the style and manner of God will not remain behind on earth. We cannot take our stuff with us. Those remain behind, BUT we don’t need to take our deeds with us. Those follow on their own. There will be a reward for our faithfulness on the earth.
Jesus told the parable of the tenants. Recall in that parable the master who was going on a long journey. Before taking to the highway he called several of his trusted servants to him and dispensed some slices of his wealth. When the master returned he called those servants to him for an accounting of their deeds. Two did well and received a blessing, a reward. A third made excuses and it went badly for him.
When those who persevere in their good deeds, their God-glory, their worship arrive at their rest the things they did while alive will speak for themselves. The deeds will be the witnesses and from them will be accorded blessings as God sees fit. There is a darker caveat, though, and that is these deeds which follow will be tested by fire. Paul says that that fire will burn up some of the deeds.
So we must be vigilant and serve the Lord with our energies every moment of the day.
Simeon
Remember this fellow who was at the temple when Jesus was dedicated? I did not, but Matthew Henry did. Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation…” (Luke 2:28-29–ESV) Simeon was ready to pass on and enter eternity. He would depart the world in peace, in blessedness. He was satisfied that the tasks and hopes for his life had been fulfilled. There were things he was to do and things he was to see. Jesus, the baby Jesus, was on his hope list. Having seen it he gave glory to God, and not just that. He was thankful.
These written words in Revelation 14 can be taken the same way for our life. If we are in the Lord we can expect rest. If we are not, well, any expectation of rest is but a mirage. If we are in the Lord and struggling with our circumstances struggle on…in the Lord. Troubles and trials faced with godliness will reap a sure reward. What the Lord tells John to write and what the Spirit echoes will never, never fall flat.
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