THE LAST DAYS
Anita Clark – Pastor
Carbondale, Kansas
“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light” Matthew 11:28-30.
In this world of corruption and confusion which we face everyday in these last times, we must learn to rest in the Lord to have the peace of God in our hearts. Life is so full of disrupting things which constantly seek to rob us of our rest in the Lord. The first requirement to obtain this rest is to “Come” unto Jesus. He is the only One Who can give us peace, and rest.
In Luke 10:38-42 we find the story of Jesus visiting in the home of Martha. In verse 40 it says she was “cumbered about with much serving.” The word “cumbered” in the Gk. means “to drag all around, to disturb with care.” Often times in our lives we find ourselves in this situation. In verse 41, Jesus told this troubled woman, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things.”
The word “careful” in the Greek language means, “full of care or anxiety, while the word, “troubled” means “to crowd, disturb or (turbid).” Mary chose the good part which Jesus said would not be taken away from her. That was resting at Jesus’ feet hearing His words. Apostle Paul says in Philippians 4:6 “Be careful (anxious) for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Peace and rest are joined together. When you have peace, you will have rest.
In Matthew 11:29, Jesus says, “Take My yoke upon you and learn of me.” The word “yoke” means “a coupling,” speaking of a yoke of oxen. Christ Jesus on one side and us on the other, joined together. It’s the only way of victory over restlessness and anxiety. We are joined unto the Lord. We are in Christ, and Christ is in us. The Scripture declares it. Notice that in Vs. 30 Jesus says, “For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” He is our burden bearer! He is the strength of our life! Our burden can be many things - whatever it is that is our lot in life. He is able and willing to bear it. In Vs. 29, Jesus says, “...and ye shall find rest for your souls.” This is a positive statement, and we find it really works. Psalms 55:22 says, “Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
“Learn of Me” Vs. 29. How? By listening to the voice of the Person who is close by in the other side of the yoke - our dear Lord Jesus. Guiding us, leading us, turning us into the path we should go. He will never lead us into a wrong path, and He always gives us strength to go where ever He leads us. How precious this is - to rest on Him and let Him control our lives.
Satan, our enemy, is always the perpetrator of an unrestful, unpeaceful spirit in a Christian’s heart. Psalms 37:7 says, “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; fret not thyself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.” Here in this place the Hebrew word for the word “rest” means, “to stop, cease, quiet self, be still, stand still, wait,.” Psalms 55:1-6 is a precious passage - speaking of how sometimes we feel oppressed in our trials and we may cry out, “...Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest.” This word “rest” means permanently stay, or reside or lodge, dwell or have habitation.”
We may at those times wonder where is the REST of the Lord. But then we cry out to God, and He gives peace that passes understanding and we learn that wonderful place of His rest. We may think, “What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I be in this place all the time?” Psalms 116:3-9 states, “The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Then I called upon the LORD, and I beseech Thee, deliver my soul. Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and He helped me. Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.”
All of us have gone through times of sorrow and trial. Yet, many of you have learned to rest on our sweet Jesus. Remember, “Underneath is His everlasting arms.” As we look around us we see so much evil and crime and drug addiction. Many of us have relatives whom we love very much, who are addicted to drugs. We are often grieved at all the evil manifest in the world and in our country and our state and even town. Satan is rampaging because he knows that his time is short.
We will be victorious over these trials, and disappointments as we rely and rest upon the Lord.
He is coming very soon. Will He find us faithful and resting upon Him?
