Are you in need of rest?

Are you in need of rest?

‘Time in the Word’

By Clayton Adams Some say they found religion while others say they were saved or even turned around in his/her life. No matter how it is stated, I am always interested in knowing how people come to Christ in faith.

Many people never have known a life of regret or “sin” as many Christians think of. By human accounts, these are nice people living nice lives.

But nice people are sinners in need of salvation too.

Some people were and are saved from the worst type of living. Whatever the lifestyle or choices made, their testimonies of coming to Christ are interesting.

In the end, both types of people are the same, lost without Christ and hellbound because of unforgiven sin.

Whatever the background or story of faith, whether saved one from a long life of sin or just a “little” sin, God saves people. But why does God allow such tragedies in the lives of people?

Why do some events cause people to turn to God and others turn to everything and everyone but God?

These are the mysteries of faith, choices made from false beliefs.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor 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” (Matthew 11:28-29). Jesus is calling everyone to Him… Everyone. And I need rest. Do you?

We know that all people struggle for life, prosperity, freedom, to be free from life’s heavy burdens and duties. Jesus made this statement and it applies to every group of people, every color, every language — all people — every individual. It applies to the wealthy, poor, drunkards, prostitutes, nice people — no matter the lifestyle, choices made or struggle one finds himself or herself in, Jesus’ invitation applies to all people, even you.

I have committed to memory these words the apostle Paul wrote to the Believers living in the city of Rome, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angles, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). I believe this. I have often thought that the one thing that pulls me away from Christ not included in this list is myself. I can stand in the face of ridicule, I can handle being laughed at, I can take criticism but what I can’t stand and fall to is my own wicked heart.

I don’t drink alcohol, not because of the Bible but because I don’t want to be the next alcoholic. I am not addicted to smoking (my dad spanked this out of me when I was in sixth grade and was caught smoking in the boy’s room at school) and by all appearances, I live an unappealing and uneventful life (admittedly I work too much). But I am still a sinner. Perhaps the worst of sinners.

The apostle Paul said this about himself, “This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all” (1 Timothy 1:15). Until everyone sees himself or herself as a sinner, their heart fools and misleads them.

The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah said at the direction of God's Holy Spirit, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:9-10).

Those who live “good” lives and think they do not need Christ and the forgiveness He provides, are deceived by their own heart. Those who believe, for whatever reason, no Savior is needed are in danger of condemning themselves to an eternal hell. God says the human heart is “deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.” I believe this. Do you?

I try to convince myself I am not as bad as someone else, or I am better than so-and-so. But the warning from God is that my heart is deceitful, it blinds me to my need for Christ and His forgiveness. Truth be told the biggest enemy in our lives is our own mercenary heart.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Rest from what? The burdens of life and weight our hearts’ desire’s — the wrong desires, the wrong desire we mask as good intentions or intentional slips of memory, to do good but to not do what we should do. Perhaps the biggest lie we struggle with is the belief that we can “make-up” for our sin without Christ.

I have found that Saturday and Sunday are days for my recovery — my body needs the rest and I go to bed early or take an extended nap. Likewise, and more importantly, my heart needs rest if from nothing else but itself. Do you need rest? Christ offers it to you.

Will you take Him up on it? I do every day.

Clayton Adams has a message of faith he would like to share with the community. He would also like to hear from you. E-mail him at claytonpadamslll@ gmail.com.