Thoughts for another day

April 1, 2010

Today's verse: Mt. 11:28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

On an arch at the gate of a cemetery, is written the above and when I read it years ago, my mind acknowledged it saying, ‘How appropriate.’ Now that I’ve grown in the Lord, I can truly say, ‘How inappropriate.’ What an awfully erroneous way of interpreting the Word of Jesus Christ as to indicate - His rest for the ‘dead’!

When Jesus looked at the crowds following Him, He felt pity. They were impoverished, leaderless and pitiable with no redemption whatsoever. Weak and beaten, none looked at them and though they wanted to keep hope, who could they hope in? Much like today when the poor are beaten and suppressed, with absolutely no savior in sight. Jesus saw their hopelessness and tiredness which broke His heart. He wanted to give them hope. He spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven of which they were citizens and asked them to follow its laws. He revealed the joys of the Kingdom even in their sorrow on earth. Jesus indicated to their dual citizenship, whereby they were citizens of earth as well as citizens of Heaven and because eventually they’d be citizens of heaven, He asked them to practice its virtues including maximum love of God and neighbor and love of enemies.

The Jews understood the meaning of ‘rest’ as in fulsome peace assured by God as they came out of Egypt into the land He would give them, where He would cause His Name to dwell with them, Deut. 12:10,11. But it didn’t happen and so Jesus came to tell them about the new ‘rest’. This rest is not ‘lying in the grave’ for it is not for the body which is corrupt and reduced to mud, but for the soul of everyone who dies in the Lord (Rev. 14:13). Then will God dwell with men, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And He will wipe away all tears from their eyes; Rev. 21:3-4.

While that’s the right interpretation of what Jesus told, He isn’t about to forsake you here in this world. He will struggle with your struggles and fend for you. He will ensure that in the midst of suffering, your heart is full of joy. Though you will have trouble, you will also have a song on your lips which defies all logic. What’s more, Jesus Himself will work for you in ensuring your life on earth is a preparation for your Heavenly stay as long as you give your life to Him.