RUN, DON’T REST
Memorise: For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to
come. - Hebrews 13:14
Read: 1 Kings 13:7-14 (KJV)
7 And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh
thyself, and I will give thee a reward.
8 And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine
house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in
this place:
9 For so was it charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no
bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest.
10 So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to
Bethel.
11 Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told
him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words
which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father.
12 And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had
seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah.
13 And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the
ass: and he rode thereon,
14 And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak:
and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he
said, I am.
Bible in one Year: Leviticus
17:10-19:18, 1 Corinthians 11:17-12:11
In today’s Bible reading, we have a very sad story of a young prophet sent by
God to the city of Bethel with strict instructions. After he delivered the
message, he took a different route homewards as instructed by God. But along
the way, he felt danger had passed and so he decided to take a rest. While
taking his rest, an old prophet came by, lied to him and convinced him to
return with him. He obeyed this old prophet and eventually met his death. If
only he had delayed his rest, the false prophet would have come looking for him
without finding him. Just as it happened to this young prophet, resting too
soon has terminated the Christian race of so many believers. In some races, we
sometimes see a contestant that is running so fast, leaving other contestants
far behind. For the contestant ahead, there is always the temptation to relax,
reduce speed and to take the rest of the journey easy, due to a false sense of
having won the race already. Many a contestant has yielded to such temptations
and got the shock of a lifetime. You will do yourself a lot of good to know
that on earth, while on our way to Heaven, we have no resting place. For this
reason, Hebrew 4:9 says:
“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.”
What the devil or your flesh is suggesting to you as a rest is actually meant
to activate your spiritual death warrant. Our rest in Heaven is eternal, and
this is partly to compensate is for the no-rest race we have to run on earth.
If you want rest, wait until you get to Heaven.
Sometimes ago, I visited Australia. While there, a brother shared a testimony
that made me weep inside. The old man testified that some time ago, a
particular man of God who was highly anointed came to Australia. People brought
their dead and they were raised back to life. Within one week, there were
ambulances bringing in dead people to the crusade. I could recall this
particular man of God. He started very well and was mightily used of God, but
along the line, he began to bring in some strange doctrines. He said all that
was needed now was only faith; there was no more need for fasting, holiness,
etc. He did not end up very well. Beloved, since you have started the race,
focus on it and continue to run. Receive all the grace that you can muster from
the Lord and continue running the race. Refuse any proposal to slow down or
rest, as this is meant to terminate your race.
Prayer Point: Father, let me never encounter the rest that would
terminate my race to Heaven, in Jesus’ Name.
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