should seem to come short of it._
_Hebrews 4: 11_.--_Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any
man fall after the same example of unbelief_.
I want, in the simplest way possible, to answer the question: "How does a
man enter into that rest?" and to point out the simple steps that he takes,
all included in the one act of surrender and faith.
And the first step, I think, is this: that a man learns to say, "I believe,
heartily, there is rest in a life of faith." Israel passed through two
stages. This is beautifully expressed in the fifth of Deuteronomy: "He
brought us out, that He might bring us in"--two parts of God's work of
redemption--"He brought us out from Egypt, that He might bring us into
Canaan." And that is applicable to every believer. At your conversion, God
brought you out of Egypt, and the same almighty God is longing to bring you
into the Canaan life. You know how God brought the Israelites out, but they
would not let Him bring them in and they had to wander for forty years in
the wilderness--the type, alas! of so many Christians. God brings them out
in conversion, but they will not let Him bring them in into all that He has
prepared for them. To a man who asks me, "How can I enter into the rest?" I
say, first of all, speak this word, "I do believe that there is a rest into
which Jesus, our Joshua, can bring a trusting soul." And if you would
know what the difference is between the two lives--the life you have been
leading, and the life you now want to lead, just look at the wilderness and
Canaan. What are the points of difference? In the wilderness, wandering for
forty years, backward and forward; in Canaan, perfect rest in the land that
God gave them. That is the difference between the life of a Christian who
has, and one who has not entered into Canaan. In wandering backward and
forward; going after the world, and coming back and repenting; led astray
by temptation, and returning only to go off again;--a life of ups and
downs. In Canaan, on the other hand, a life of rest, because the soul has
learned to trust: "God keeps me every hour in His mighty power." There is
the second difference: the life in the wilderness was a life of want; in
Canaan, a life of plenty. In the wilderness there was nothing to eat; there
was often no water. God graciously supplied their wants by the manna, and
the water from the rock. But, alas! they were not content with this, and
their life was one of want an
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