Everyone who really seeks the truth is genuinely interested in becoming and being as they ought to be in their inward man—in truth—before God. On the other hand, the fervent interest of all hypocrites concerns the impression they and their possessions make in the eyes of man. It is of the utmost importance to them that everything has a good appearance and that what they say sounds good in people’s ears. Everything has to do with how it appears to be, not about what it actually is in its innermost being! Their concern is what people think about it and not what God thinks about it. Hypocrisy is far, far more common than people usually suspect. Even the wise apostle Paul addresses this question so strongly that he writes to the entire church in Corinth: “You look at things only according to the outward appearance.” 2 Cor. 10:7.Norwegian Bible translation. The explanation is that the things that come from God—spiritual things—also have an external side, in the same way as good fruit has a peel. You can be interested in spiritual things and yet be only interested in how it appears outwardly. Let everyone examine himself! Isaiah 53:2-3: “He has no form or comeliness [outwardly] . . . . There is no beauty [appearance—marg.]that we should desire Him.” He had not committed a single misdeed, nor was guile found in His mouth. V. 9. This was the glorious and great thing! The fear of God is something great! But a form of godliness is just deception! It is less than nothing. It is of the utmost importance to have our eyes opened to the inward glory, to its honorable quality! We ought to evaluate things according to the motives! For example, it may appear to be, and sound like it is hardness, mercilessness, etc., and yet be genuinely true care, goodness, and sincere love. The peel is like it is, but the question is: what is the core like? Let it sound however it sounds, if only it is genuinely noble and good! Loving a woman because she is attractive or a man because he is handsome is undiluted foolishness! What one should value is a good and pure heart and a good attitude of mind. This is part of wisdom.Elias Aslaksen

“For if Joshua had given them rest . . . .” The intention was for Joshua to lead Israel to rest in the land by utterly destroying the enemy, so Israel could dwell there in safety. At first they did not have faith to take up the battle. They reckoned with their own strength and saw themselves as grasshoppers. Num. 13:33. Joshua and Caleb reckoned with God and not with themselves; consequently, they entered into rest, believing in victory over their enemies. They also saw themselves as grasshoppers compared to the enemy, but they had complete rest in their faith in victory before they went into battle. Ch. 14:8-10. When it concerns victory over sin, we must draw near “in the full assurance of faith.” We must have come to rest in the faith that it is possible for God to give us this grace. It is useless to fight, as long as you do not have this rest, doubting whether it is possible for you. People doubt because they reckon with their own strength and not with God. This demonstrates a lack of surrender. Full surrender results in perfect rest. A lack of faith indicates a lack of being surrendered to God. “Only do not rebel against the Lord.” Israel had the calling to possess the land. When they drew back, they rebelled against the Lord. Most people do not have the calling to gain complete victory over sin, but those who have an ear with which to hear, they also have the calling. Therefore when they doubt and draw back, they rebel against the Lord. Heb. 10:38-39. When the time came for Joshua to lead the people into the land, it became evident that they did not possess sufficient zeal to destroy the enemy, but they made them perform forced labor instead. Judg. 1:28. Therefore they did not enter into rest, and the enemy became thorns in their sides. Judg. 2:1-3. This is how it goes with many people who have the calling to overcome sin. They press in to the point where they gain the victory in outward things, thereby gaining a good testimony, but they do not destroy sin. They do not suffer sin in the flesh to death in order to cease from sin. 1 Pet. 4:1. Therefore they do not have victory in the hidden—in their thought life. We must possess the zeal that is produced by hate in order to gain full victory—to enter into rest. One can have victory over fornication so one has a good testimony, but how is it when it comes to your thought life—to rest? You can have victory to the degree that you do not go around and talk about your anxieties, but how is it when it comes to having entered into rest on this point? You do not become noticeably angry, but have you entered into rest? There are some who can rule over sin, but they do not have the zeal to destroy it in order to enter into rest. They do not have the necessary hatred against sin that would cause them to be completely surrendered to God. They consider the good testimonies of man. They do not stand before God’s face, therefore they will never enter into rest, “although the works were finished from the foundation of the world,” even though Jesus called out, “It is finished!” Israel was content as long as they ruled over their enemies, but when their enemies gained power over them, they cried out to the Lord. Then they destroyed the idols and surrendered their lives completely to God. But when God gave them power over their enemies, they went their own ways again. This is how it goes with many people. When sin rules over them so that they suffer in their circumstances and have a bad testimony, they cry out to God because they are in need. However, when God helps them to gain the upper hand, and they begin to lead a good life and have a good testimony, it is often evident that they do not hate sin so they can enter into rest. They do not stand before Him who has eyes like flames of fire. They are not true in their innermost heart, which is why they cannot cease from sin and enter into rest.Sigurd Bratlie