Spent unto Strength

Heaven is not a resting place, where men may sleep out an eternity; there they rest not day nor night, but their work is their rest and continual recreation, and toil and weariness have no place there. They rest there in God, who is the center of their souls. Here they find the completion or satisfaction of all their desires, having the full enjoyment of God and uninterrupted communion with him.
~Thomas Boston (1676-1732)

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.  Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
~ paul, The Least of The Apostles, in Philippians 3

Oh beloved, it is true.  We ache.  We hurt.  We are tired.  

We are, like Paul, prone to weep over the apathy of those around us who claim to be believers.  We are, to put it bluntly, spent.  The day is far spent.  And the world is coming down around the ears of a believer who has committed himself to the great commission given him by his King.  Everywhere we look, we often sense that the only emotion that makes any sense is discouragement or desperation or despair.

Are you there?  Keep going.

Nee Tao Shu (Watchman Nee) was used by G_d to establish hundreds (perhaps thousands) of congregations throughout China.  Many millions have been brought into the Kingdom through the work G_d did through this man.  He is, perhaps, the most influential believer to have lived during the 20th century in Asia.  He was persecuted, and jailed until his death in a Chinese prison.  And this is one of the things that he said.

Beloved, all of these things are how He is showing us to live right now.  For this is how truly effective life is lived on earth, as it is in heaven.  Oh! The good news of the Gospel just gets better every time you look at it!