9 - Thoughts on the 'rest of God'

Life is still Hard! What's up with That!

There is a great Zen quote that I want to share:
Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.
Every time I feel like I'm more in tune, life gets harder. I feel better about myself but I hurt more as I face successive challenges. Sometimes I wonder why things don't just work out when I am doing the right thing.

 Unfortunately, I know I am not alone. I don't even have anything real to complain about compared to some of my friends. I can think of so many names in the United States and other countries who are doing good things every day but still just barely hanging on.

 Sadly, I don't understand why it is so hard. I don't know why the best people struggle so much. All I know is that I have received revelation in my life and I know it is the right way to go, regardless of the struggle.

 Many prophets, and God Himself, promise a state called "The rest of God" for those who follow Him. I have studied what this means for years. I want to know what it means and how to get there. Based on the holy scriptures, I believe I have found four ways in which the rest of God manifests. 

Rest of God as the Calm Assurance

I watched a short video of a christian from Switzerland once. She was talking about her religious experiences in her life. I don't remember anything she said except the last sentence 'I felt then, and I feel again now, that this experience is true (truly of God)'.

 When she said that, I felt a change come over my entire body. I believe she had the form of the rest of God that is a calm assurance. She had a calm assurance that she was doing the right thing, living her life right. 

 Many people who have left my church and then returned talk about feeling an emptiness, or a loss of something in their lives. Maybe that is this calm assurance that is with people walking the path of faith.

Rest of God as the Fearless Witness

Calm assurance is just the beginning. What about those situations where you are in trouble? What about when people want to kill you for what you do?

 I believe many prophets have the rest of God, but as a fearless witness, not just a calm happiness in their lives. I came across this conclusion while reading Isaiah in these verses
I offered my back to those who beat me,    my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face    from mocking and spitting. 
Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,    I will not be disgraced.Therefore have I set my face like flint,    and I know I will not be put to shame.
Isaiah, according to tradition, was killed by being sawed into two pieces. I can't help but wonder what gave him the courage and power to keep doing what he was doing. I believe that he, along with many other prophets, had a certain rest of God with them that gave them the power to surmount their obstacles.

Rest of God as a Dedicated Community

Sometimes, the rest of God references communities who are following God and receiving revelation not just on an individual basis, but as a general rule among the entire community. I don't believe I have ever seen this with my own eyes. But there are indications that Enoch's Zion was one of these. Maybe Peter's United Order in the new testament was one of these as well.

 Thinking back on why things are so hard when we do the right thing, I believe it is because we are still mostly individuals finding the rest of God. I believe that if we could get into the community level, we really could have the rest of God with much less struggle.

Rest of God as the Presence of God with You

The community is not where it ends. Remember, Enoch had established Zion BEFORE the city was taken up. Before it reached the height of it's glory. Then God took it up and it was in a new state. I believe this is the final fulfillment of being in the rest of God; being in a state where you can constantly be in His presence. there is no barrier between Him and you and you receive freely from Him.

Cool Quote!

I have already mentioned the Gateless Gate many times in this mini-series. I can't help but wonder, was this a guide for the initiate to enter the rest of God? Here is a quote from the very first koan
As you stand on the brink of life and death, you are absolutely free. You can enter any world as if it were your own playground. How do you concentrate on this Mu? Pour every ounce of your entire energy into it and do not give up, then a torch of truth will illuminate the entire universe

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