If we continue to live our Christian life in the Spirit of God, praying fervently each day, meditating continually in the Scriptures, assembling faithfully with fervent believers, seeking diligently the gifts of the Spirit that we may build up the Body, giving generously of our means as the Lord directs, pressing forward in Christ with all of our might, then, when we are raised from the dead, we will be given the fullness of the Holy Spirit; in addition, a body which is created from eternal life.

This is how we attain the first resurrection from the dead, the resurrection of the royal priesthood, the resurrection that will take place when the Lord Jesus returns to earth to call up His army to Himself.

(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:5,6—NIV)

Paul was setting aside all else that he might come to know the power of Christ's resurrection and the fellowship of Christ's sufferings. Paul's object was to attain the resurrection which is out from among the dead, that is, the crown of eternal life.

Our rest, our inheritance, our land of promise, our Canaan, is, first of all, Christ and God. Next in importance is life lived in the fullness of resurrection wisdom and power. When we become a tree of life we can return with Christ and pour out the Life of God into the dead sea of mankind. This is our destiny as the dwelling place, the Throne of God.

When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. He said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Sea.  When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh. (Ezekiel 47:7,8—NIV)

The third aspect of our rest, our inheritance, is composed of the nations and the farthest reaches of the earth.

The Nations and the Farthest Reaches of the Earth

Until God imparts His love for people to us we cannot appreciate the verses that tell us we shall be coheirs with Jesus Christ of the nations of the earth.

For so long we have been regaled with mansions, backyards filled with diamonds, and golden slippers, that our salvation has taken on the characteristics of a myth.

Perhaps we think great wealth would bring us happiness. It might help us to observe the wealthy of the earth and see if their gold has brought them lasting happiness, or if they are bound with an insatiable greed to heap to themselves more and more money. Do they have peace and joy? Probably no more peace and joy than many people who have only the necessities of life.

To be continued.