Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you shall find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16
Cease striving (find rest) and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
Both of these verses are spoken in the context of God’s right and willingness to use His power and authority to bring desolation to the earth and to nations (even His chosen one) for their rebellious and unholy lives. I mentioned earlier this week that there has always seemed to be, at least for me, a tension between the God of the Old Testament and that of the New. The OT God was a Holy King and a Righteous Judge wielding discipline aplenty. The NT God was Holy also but was far more approachable and could even become a Father and a Friend who seemed reluctant to judge.
It seems that in the Old Testament God was revealing the holiness of His nature and the impossible gulf between that aspect of Himself and fallen humanity. The Old Testament was an incomplete yet essential part of what we had to know about God. The Old Testament also exposed the human heart as incapable (and/or unwilling) to live in compliance to His ways.
The reason Jesus’ coming was gospel (good news) is because He was the full and complete revelation of God to mankind. “He (Jesus) is the radiance of His (God’s) glory and the exact representation of His nature…” This NT God is approachable. He says, “Let the little children come to me“. I also asked earlier this week if God had changed between Malachi and Matthew. My answer is “no”. However, how much of Himself He was permitting man to to see of Him did change between the Old and the New Testament. It is worthy of a continual heart celebration that Jesus came as a mediator (1 Tim 2:5,6) bridging the impossible gulf between His holiness and our disqualifying lack of it.
In my meditation regarding “becoming” and looking into the concepts of ancient paths (from Jeremiah 6:6) that I should walk in for the sake of my soul’s rest, I am drawn back to the original thought that launched the Blue Book experiment which was the idea that much could be regained for our weary and busy souls in learning how to “wait on God” in our personal experience.
So, I am not drawn by today’s reflections back to the Old Covenant as the ancient path I should follow to find peace and rest with God. However I am drawn to the command to “wait on God” as an older, more established pathway to “rest“. Waiting and resting are keynote themes of the Blue Book. Hearing back from many of you, I was encouraged to learn that the BB was serving you to this end. So, even if our “waiting” is still, at this moment, just a “pause”, take courage; we are moving on a pathway toward rest. Try “pressing on to know the Lord” by taking even more steps of “waiting” toward Him. This very approachable God who is inviting us to draw near by simply recognizing the heart-to-heart reconnection He has established, is always saying, “Come to me little ones, no one is prohibiting you”.
So, how do I know if I am fully availing myself of the costly gift that Christ is offering me? My suggestion is that we should ask ourselves if there is a continual heart celebration within us over the good news of our reestablished union with God through Jesus. Can you say with Jude (24) that you are enjoying standing blamelessly in the presence of His glory with great joy?
Father, in your great patience and kindness, open our hearts to the marvelous opportunity you have given us to know You. Let us discover the “rest” you have provided. Let us each discover how inviting, how forgiving, how joyful and passionate You are. Let us become the people who convey to the world just how secure children are, who are, like us, well cared for and well loved. May our grace-filled hearts serve as a living appeal to this world of Your goodness. Without disregard to Your holiness, may our lives, in their joy and freedom, convey how approachable You are – dispelling any residual, OT, incomplete, wrath-filled wrong impressions we have of You. Amen.