W. B. Godbey - Enter His Rest

omnipotent Spirit, conferring on us the life and giving us all needed help to live it day by day, thus utterly and
eternally sweeping away every apology for sin, either actual or original, whereas the infirmities normal to our
fallen state really have no power to vitiate the perfect spiritual life in our hearts for the obedience of perfect
love, which we live. These infirmities in the Bible are denominated sins of ignorance, and, though incompatible
with the heavenly state, have no power to either condemn or pollute in the present life, as they are abundantly
provided for in Christ. This we see beautifully and powerfully illustrated in the cities of refuge, which were
three in number on either side of the Jordan, so that the involuntary homicide could surely reach one of them,
unobstructed by Jordan's flood. If the avenger of blood overtook him he would certainly kill him, but there was
no reason why he should overtake him, as he always got the start of him and as there was no real obstruction in
his way. He had nothing to do but to run with all his might and fall headlong through the gate of the city and in
that way was perfectly safe. If the avenger of blood should then slay him, his nearest relative would certainly
kill the avenger. These cities of refuge beautifully symbolize our wonderful Christ, who has actually provided
for everything. These infirmities are accidental violations of the divine law, illustrated in the Bible by a man
chopping down a tree and the axe flying off the handle and killing a man who happened to come up behind and
the chopper did not see him; hence they rank as mere accidents in which we do wrong while aiming to do right.
While the Christian perfection we enjoy in this life is not vitiated by these sins of ignorance, the angelic
perfection, which we receive in glorification and enjoy in Heaven, would be utterly marred and ruined by
accidental transgressions of the Divine law. Therefore the angels are forever kept even from sins of ignorance.
But our blessed Christ has so wonderfully redeemed us that He has provided for the elimination of all these
infirmities which conduce to sins of ignorance.
While biography is doubtless the most profitable line of reading, it is of course a universally conceded fact that
every biography in all the ages is incident to infirmities, except that of our glorious Lord. Therefore while we
may derive vast help by acquainting ourselves with the lives of the Lord's people, yet they are to be taken more
or less at discount in every case, leaving a large margin for infirmities. We all in this life need a perfect
examplar. My teachers used to tell me always to aim high, as I was very likely to drop down below the mark of
my aspiration. As our glorious Lord has taken it on Himself to come to this world, and has given us a perfect
example showing us how to live and die, therefore the value of His biography is absolutely inestimable to us.
Oh, what a world we would have if every human being in it would acquaint himself with the life of Jesus and
walk in His footprints! No human being can do it without the prevenient concomitant grace which He freely
gives through the blessed intervention of His Holy Spirit. But we are so happy to say that He leaves us without
excuse. When He so frequently rings out the proclamation, “Follow me,” rest assured He is not mocking us,
because He freely gives us all the help we need to obey that and every other commandment. N. B. Obedience
legitimately appertains to citizens of His kingdom. No sinner can possibly keep our Lord's commandments,
because he is a citizen of Satan's kingdom who is too strong for him and assuredly will not let him obey the
Lord. But if he will cry to God He will send him His Holy Spirit anywhere this side of Hell to defeat the devil,
break his chains and set him free.
In regeneration he is born into the family of God and becomes a bona fide citizen of His kingdom.
Then by His sustaining grace and sanctifying power he can walk in the footprints of Jesus, to his infinite benefit
prompted by the Lord's infallible example, both in life and in death. This “Life of Jesus and His Apostles,” you
will find infinitely valuable as an expositor of His wonderful preaching, by far the best preaching the world ever
heard or ever will till He comes in His glory.
It so happens that the Bible does not follow any of the Apostles to the end of their lives, except poor Judas, who
died first of all by awful suicide, and James, the elder brother of John and son of Zebedee, whom Herod Agrippa
beheaded with the sword. The destiny of the other Apostles we have to find in history. After those awful,
exterminating wars by the Romans, began to gather the formidable tempests threatening the very existence of
the Jewish nation, whose nationality they did obliterate. All of the Apostles, pursuant to our Lord's commission,
(Matt. 28:19), then divided up the great heathen world and separated, never to meet again this side the pearly
gates, each one going to his respective field of labor.
MATTHEW received Ethiopia as his appointment, whither faithfully going, he preached heroically till bloody