Enjoying Christ’s Rest
With Summer holidays approaching, many people are starting to think about some rest. Should it be a UK favourite? If the Strait of Hormuz is unblocked, might be a flight abroad? Or could we see ourselves staying at home? And, in all three scenarios, excitement and expectation is understandably high, until the holiday begins.
Going well?
Yes, it’s true. A lot of holidays do go well. However, many of us go into a period of rest so wired, we find it difficult to unwind. Not only have we pushed ourselves to get away, our responsibilities don’t stop just because we’ve made it Sandbanks, Cyprus, or Spain. Then when we do arrive, we might find sharp elbows around the sun loungers, problems with our parking, or we become ill, because we’ve slowed down.
Disappointments
Now, as we reflect on this subject of rest and the problems we face trying to land it, the picture isn’t too positive. Yes, with time in life comes experience, and generally, we know the variables we are likely to face, but so often, when we go into a period of rest, expectations are not met in full. We return from our holiday to our hamster wheel, feeling flat.
How can we respond?
Well, did you know that there is a type of rest offered to us all that the world cannot give or take away, and not only is this rest offered for free it is also life changing. It is the rest we find by faith, in Jesus Christ.
Jesus our only hope
You see, while a period of rest at home or abroad will do some good, it will never deal with the deeper issues we all face—the fact that we live in a fallen world, and that we are separated from God by our sin. Going on holiday will take us so far, however, a holiday will never make us ready for that Day when we must stand before God and give Him an account of our lives.
The only hope we have on that Great Day is if we are found by God to be trusting in the righteous work of His Son, Jesus. When Jesus is our Lord and our Saviour, we don’t have to prove ourselves to God. We can rest, knowing that He paid the price for our sins when He died on the cross.
I will give you rest
Hear what Jesus says to us: “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew Chapter 11, verses 28-30 ESVUK).
Planning for rest this summer is a good thing. Enjoying Christ’s rest, forever, is even better.