Rest in Christ in God. Truly, the rest of God is one of the greatest of all treasures. The degree of rest in Christ we possess varies from believer to believer.

Some Christians have made a profession of faith in Christ but as yet are not aware of the wonderful entrance into Christ that is available even in the present life. Other Christians have been taught concerning the life of abiding in Christ and have exercised the faith, courage, trust, and diligence required for full entrance into the Father and the Son (Ephesians 3:19).

O to live as Jesus lived, as Paul lived, in the full flowing of the Life of God! What a battle, what a labor is necessary if we are to press past all fear and unbelief and enter the rest of God! What a state of glory we live in as God becomes our Salvation and we begin to draw water with joy from the wells of salvation!

When we die physically we cannot bring our material possessions or accomplishments with us into the spirit realm. However, we will bring the kind of personality we have become in this world, and we will bring the degree of rest in Christ in God we have obtained.

It appears likely the victorious saints will see the Lord Jesus face to face when they die. Some of these believers will have the Father and the Son living in them to a much greater extent than is true of the others.

Christ will meet all believers, when they die, as an external Person. In certain instances, however, the Life of Jesus that has been formed in the believer will answer to the external Jesus. No doubt such saints will be hurried to Christ's throne for they have become an eternally inseparable part of His very Life.

The earthly counterpart of God's rest is a life lived in our soulish self-centeredness and self-love. We believe in Christ but we must have Him on our own terms. In the deceit of our soul we (perhaps without realizing it) are attempting to manipulate Christ, as we do all other persons, to our advantage.

If we would escape the horrible dungeon of self-centeredness we must take up our cross. It is only as we are crucified with Christ that Christ can live in us.

If at any point in these nine areas we choose to cling to the earthly counterpart, our Christian personality will be influenced adversely. We will miss the fullness of the rewards promised to the overcomer and the full glory of rest in Christ in God.

Christ has commanded us, realizing what is at stake for us: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on the earth but do lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (from Treasures in Heaven; from Revelation: Chapters Twenty-one and Twenty-two)