“Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Now we who have believed enter that rest…” Hebrews 4:1-3

I have already “made it”. I get to live from that place from here on out.

I don’t always believe that truth, and like most people, I’m still trying to “make it”.

• In school: “Once I’m top of the class…get into that university…graduate magna cum laude…then I’ll have made it.”
• In sports: “Once I make the varsity team…the “A squad”…the all-star team…win the championship…get voted MVP…then I’ll have made it.”
• In work: “Once I work my way up to partner…start my own business…my business is successful…reach that net worth…make enough to retire…then I’ll have made it.”
• In religion: “Once I start going to church again…join a small group…share my faith…have regular quiet times…start full-time ministry…start that NGO…save the orphans…have a big church…then I’ll have made it.”
• In family and society: “Once I get older…get married…have kids…my kids are in that certain school…my kids get married…my kids have kids…then I’ll have made it.”

The lists go on and on, but we get the point.  Once we’ve done these things, then we’ll have made it. Then we can finally rest and feel good about our lives and work. At least that’s what we think. But do you notice how the lists are all progressive? Trying to “make it” is like chasing a carrot on a stick. There’s always the next thing you need to do before you feel like you’ve made it. You just exhaust yourself until you finally die. You never make it! There’s never rest! We write “Rest In Peace” on your gravestone and hope you can finally rest now that you’re dead.

What does it mean to “make it”? What is it that we are striving for all our life? For some, it’s to finally be seen and be known as important. It may also be to be seen and known as successful, fruitful, memorable, lovable, approved of, attractive, adored, applauded, remembered, capable, of worth, good or respectable. We think that we can attain these things if we achieve in the categories above.

Well, we don’t need to wait until we’re buried in a nice park somewhere.

I’ve got good news and bad news. First, good news for the weary – you can stop striving and be remembered, adored, approved of, worthy, loved and everything else right now by simply receiving it. God, not phased by your inability to measure up, measured up for you. He did what it takes. He received your shortcomings and failures and sin and pain so that you could receive His capability, victory, righteousness and joy. Don’t feel bad about receiving. This may sound crazy but He said Himself that it’s even better to give that to receive, so He is quite satisfied with the deal.

Second, bad news for the prideful who don’t want any hand-outs – you’ll never get what you’re looking for if you proceed in trying to attain “it” through striving and trying to measure up. It’s a mirage, a carrot on a string. You were taught to never give up, but it’s time to wave the white flag. Surrender. Trying to be fulfilled and worthy by your hard work is going to kill you if you don’t give it up. If you want payment for your work, you can find a job. If you want fulfillment and love, receive the fulfillment and love that is made available for free.

As for me, I’ve already made it. I don’t have to wait for anything else to happen. I can rest now.

All my old mindsets from the world and religion scream at me. “OH NO YOU DON’T!! NO YOU HAVE NOT MADE IT!! KEEP STRIVING!! KEEP TRYING!! IF YOU REST NOW YOU’LL SURELY FAIL TO MAKE IT!!”

Well I have 2 words in response…SHUT IT.

I. HAVE. MADE. IT.