8.Why does the believer have to "labor" (exercise diligence) in order to enter the rest of God?

Because our fleshly lusts, our self-will, our fear and double-mindedness, our foolishness, the spirit of the world, Satan and his demons, and the fact that the spirit realm is invisible whereas the objects of our soulish desires are visible—all combine to persuade us that God is not to be trusted, that He will not and cannot bring us into righteousness, peace, and joy.

Therefore we must keep praying, keep studying the Scriptures, keep mixing faith with the promises of God, keep obeying the Holy Spirit, keep committing our way to the Lord so we can follow the Holy Spirit into the place of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit are always ready to enable every believer to enter that place of peace and trust. Our task is to keep committing every one of our actions, every one of our words, and every one of our thoughts to Jesus so He can become the center of all that we are and all that we do.

Rest in the center of the Being and will of Christ is the only place of righteousness, peace, and joy on the earth, under the earth, in the heavens, above the heavens, and in every other place that we may be in God’s creation. God Almighty has given us all things in Christ. Are we determined enough to seek after and obtain all the inheritance?

All the blessing?

Or are we coming short of the rest of God?

All the riches of God’s universe have been given to mankind as an inheritance. The world is God’s creation. Christ is God’s concept of what mankind is to be. Our being made one in God, and God in us, is a guarantee that we indeed shall live forever, possessing within ourselves the power of an endless and indestructible life.