THIS IS NOT YOUR REST by A. M. Lindsley

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 3, 1876

THIS IS NOT YOUR REST.

By A. M. Lindsley

“Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest; because it is polluted,” was the word of exhortation by the mouth of the prophet Micah. As we contemplate the meaning of these words, the mind is carried back to the beginning, when all things were created and were called very good; when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy; when Adam and Eve, in perfect innocence, stood in the garden of Eden, and the world was spread out before them, a place of beauty and of enjoyment. This was their possession, and might have been their home through endless ages; for the earth was created for their inheritance. All that could have conduced to their happiness would have been theirs. But ah! then came their temptation and fall, by disobedience, and all at once the scene was changed. The earth was cursed for their sake, and man has since had no resting-place. Broken-hearted, they left the pleasant home that God had prepared for them; they were driven out of the garden, lest they should be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life also, and sin should be perpetuated by their becoming immortal in this fallen condition. Ever since that memorable day, man has been a wanderer on the face of the earth, with no certain dwelling-place; for after a few years of sorrow and toil he must lie down in darkness and return to dust. And had it not been that God in his mercy suffered his only Son, Jesus, to step in, and by his own death in their stead purchase, not only the redemption of the fallen race, but their first inheritance, the earth, which he has promised to redeem from the curse, and give to them as their final resting-place, hope would have died out, and happiness would have become forever extinct.

The earth became polluted under the sins of its inhabitants, Isa. 24: 5, and has so continued, and it has grown worse in its fallen condition, till the whole creation groaneth and travaileth for its new birth, when its redemption from the curse shall finally have been accomplished, and nature shall again don her Eden robes of beauty and loveliness. This was what the prophet had in view when he gave expression to the words, “Arise ye, and depart.” To be sure, the people of ancient Israel were promised the land of Canaan as their inheritance, and after a long time of wandering in the wilderness they came to it, and possessed it, or sojourned in it, for a long time; but it was only typical of the future possession of the earth made new. There was no real rest there; for they carried with them their sinful natures, so that they were called a stiff-necked and rebellious people. All the way through from Eden to the present, we have seen the truthfulness of the expression, “God has not been able to make anything very great or very good of man.” It is only as we become partakers of the divine nature through faith in the world's Redeemer, and the promised aid of the Holy Spirit, that we can ever rise above the works of the flesh, and put on the garments of righteousness and salvation. This we are exhorted to do: “Arise ye, and depart.”

As we come down to the time when the redemption of the purchased possession is about to be realized, this exhortation gathers meaning and intensity. Even our temporary foothold upon terra firma is shaken by the judgments of God that are abroad in the earth, and by the signs that betoken the dissolution of all things pertaining to the present order of nature. Could our eyes be opened to see everything in the light of prophecy and inspiration, how should we feel the necessity of taking hold of the way of life and departing from all evil, that we might be able to lay up treasures in Heaven!

Brethren and sisters, our work lies before us, to make clean records for the Judgment; for the time is at hand. The land is polluted and defiled under the inhabitants thereof. A highway is being cast up; the stones are being gathered out; yea, the standard is lifted up. Who will “arise,” enlist, and fight under the blood-stained banner of the Lord, till victory is gained, and the rest is realized that remains for the people of God?

A. M. LINDSLEY.