Three of the most amazing words one will ever read are "Come To Me." They've been spoken by parents, siblings, friends, and no doubt, foes. Their importance can vary according to circumstances and timing. But what makes these words so amazing is that they were spoken by Jesus Christ. To have the God of the universe invite us to come to Him is absolutely amazing.
Although I've written about these words before, once again they confront me, once again they draw me, once again they mesmerize me. I find them not only amazing because Jesus spoke them, but because He put no qualifying conditions on them. I don't have to have a certain social standing, a defined economic status, a desired skin color, or a specific ethnic background. The invitation is universal and all inclusive. It issues from the heart of God and it targets the hearts of men and women in every corner of the globe.
Although I have previously heeded this invitation, I often forget its standing significance. These three words, which are found in Matthew 11:28 of the Bible, are often viewed solely as an invitation to receive Christ as Lord and Savior. The complete passage reads, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV).
But they are much more than salvation invitation words. They form a paradise in a sea of anxiety and turbulence. We live in a time-crunched, stress-filled society. Our nerves are often on edge and our energy levels on empty. We funnel down energy drinks and fill our stomachs with nerve numbing pills. But so often we forget, ignore, or don't realize that these amazing words can fill us with the peace we need and provide the rest we long for.
So why don't we readily heed them? Why don't we embrace their truth and flee to Jesus when we need rest, security, and deliverance? Is there something holding us back? Is there something about us that repels us from the One who invites us?
In a recent reading of Oswald Chambers devotional, My Utmost For His Highest, Mr. Chambers writes, “'Come unto Me.' When you hear those words you will know that something must happen in you before you can come. The Holy Spirit will show you what you have to do, anything at all that will put the axe at the root of the thing which is preventing you from getting through. You will never get further until you are willing to do that one thing. The Holy Spirit will locate the one impregnable thing in you, but He cannot budge it unless you are willing to let Him" (Coming To Jesus, October 8).
As I think about his words, I find them painfully true. There have been times I've not gone to Jesus because I was uncomfortable doing so. Sin makes us uncomfortable in the presence of the One who is sinless.
I'm reminded of a scene that would often take place in my home when I was still living with my parents. Whenever our family returned home from an outing, we would be met by our house dog, a French poodle named Pierre. Occasionally, Pierre would show reluctance to come to us when we entered the house. Despite my invitation to "come," he would sometimes tuck his stub of a tail between his legs and avoid me. We soon discovered that his reluctance was a sign that he had wet the floor somewhere in the house. His sense of having done wrong, created a barrier between him and us. The same is true of us and God.
Our barrier, however, can be easily torn down. 1 John 1:9 ESV states, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Jesus says to come to Him. Don't let sin hinder you. Confess it. Repent of it. Then come--for in Him we find rest to both our souls and every aspect of our being.
Monday, October 9, 2017
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Conquering Our Fears
Christmas now resides only in our rear view mirror. Although Christmas day is long passed, I'm still playing Christmas music in our bathroom as I prepare for the day. Although our decorations are put up (most of them), and most people have stopped playing Christmas music, there is one truth of Christmas that should always be with us. In fact, the most important thing about Christmas is not the presents under the tree or those that can be bought at a store. It's not the decorations or the Christmas music. The most important thing about Christmas is that God's presence is with us. There is nothing more important than the truth conveyed in the name given Jesus in Matthew 1:23. "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." Jesus is Emmanuel. He is God with us.
I discovered several years ago the importance of His presence. It happened when I was employed at a Fossil Fueled Power Plant. While there I was sent down into a large oil tank serving a huge water pump. My job was to clean out the oily sludge in it. When I reached the bottom of the tank I began having difficulty breathing. I looked up at the opening I came through and the walls around me. Fear gripped me as the impossible began happening. The opening began to shrink and the walls began moving, closing in on me. I realized that in a matter of minutes I would be crushed. I closed my eyes and rehearsed in my mind, “This isn’t happening--solid steel walls cannot move and steel openings cannot shrink." But when I reopened my eyes the impossible continued. The walls were moving closer and the door would soon be too small for an escape. If I didn’t act quickly, this dark slimy tank would be my steel cold coffin.
Although things were not very clear to me at the time, I distinctly remember three things occurring almost simultaneously. I had reached the point where I was about to pass out (due to my hyperventilating). I was about to lose it emotionally and mentally with uncontrolled cries and screams for help. But thankfully, a third thing occurred. A thought, or rather a verse, from the Scriptures popped into my head, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). At the time I didn’t know its reference, but I knew its truth. They were the words of Jesus. They were the words I needed. They were my life-line to sanity. My fear had distracted me from God, but that verse had reminded me of God. Not one millisecond too soon I closed my eyes and began praying.
As I prayed, God’s presence became real to me, my breathing began to slow, and my fears faded. When I finished praying, I forced myself to take a peep. To my delight, the tank had returned to normal. As I cleaned the tank, I rejoiced. I had discovered what so many have searched for. I had found the power to control an uncontrollable fear. This power doesn’t come from within or from some self-help book. It doesn't come from a belief in some vague higher power or by tapping into our spiritual energies (whatever that means). Jesus was the answer. His peace can conquer our fears. He promises us His presence. We can trust His promise and draw near to Him in prayer. Drawing near to Him is essential. Why? Because it is His presence that provides us with a peace that passes understanding, regardless of the storm we are experiencing.
He has said, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 ESV). Notice He said "in me", not in my words. We need His presence. Being in His Word helps to bring His presence into our lives, but its His presence that brings peace into our fearful hearts.
I discovered several years ago the importance of His presence. It happened when I was employed at a Fossil Fueled Power Plant. While there I was sent down into a large oil tank serving a huge water pump. My job was to clean out the oily sludge in it. When I reached the bottom of the tank I began having difficulty breathing. I looked up at the opening I came through and the walls around me. Fear gripped me as the impossible began happening. The opening began to shrink and the walls began moving, closing in on me. I realized that in a matter of minutes I would be crushed. I closed my eyes and rehearsed in my mind, “This isn’t happening--solid steel walls cannot move and steel openings cannot shrink." But when I reopened my eyes the impossible continued. The walls were moving closer and the door would soon be too small for an escape. If I didn’t act quickly, this dark slimy tank would be my steel cold coffin.
Although things were not very clear to me at the time, I distinctly remember three things occurring almost simultaneously. I had reached the point where I was about to pass out (due to my hyperventilating). I was about to lose it emotionally and mentally with uncontrolled cries and screams for help. But thankfully, a third thing occurred. A thought, or rather a verse, from the Scriptures popped into my head, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). At the time I didn’t know its reference, but I knew its truth. They were the words of Jesus. They were the words I needed. They were my life-line to sanity. My fear had distracted me from God, but that verse had reminded me of God. Not one millisecond too soon I closed my eyes and began praying.
As I prayed, God’s presence became real to me, my breathing began to slow, and my fears faded. When I finished praying, I forced myself to take a peep. To my delight, the tank had returned to normal. As I cleaned the tank, I rejoiced. I had discovered what so many have searched for. I had found the power to control an uncontrollable fear. This power doesn’t come from within or from some self-help book. It doesn't come from a belief in some vague higher power or by tapping into our spiritual energies (whatever that means). Jesus was the answer. His peace can conquer our fears. He promises us His presence. We can trust His promise and draw near to Him in prayer. Drawing near to Him is essential. Why? Because it is His presence that provides us with a peace that passes understanding, regardless of the storm we are experiencing.
He has said, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 ESV). Notice He said "in me", not in my words. We need His presence. Being in His Word helps to bring His presence into our lives, but its His presence that brings peace into our fearful hearts.
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