Finding Rest

Would you ever compliment water? Imagine the audacity, the nerve, the courage, maybe the stupidity of someone who would compliment water in the form of SNOW! Why would someone do such a thing? Would water receive your compliments well? Ya know, water works hard. It mercilessly carves its way through the landscape of earth, and in some cases, it presents us with great awe and wonder. Water violently wages war against time and surfaces, eroding away pieces of rock into microscopic fragments amidst the turmoil of waves and white capped tides, and sometimes, this erosion brings new life in the form of silt and nutrient rich soil.

And yet, there is another side to water. A side where water is at the pinnacle of beauty, its most pristine and its most immaculate: when water is at rest. When water is at its physically lowest point, it is reflective, it is transparent, and it is at perfect rest. This physical description of water defines for us the ultimate place of spiritual rest and a defining theological truth: The lowly position at the foot of the cross is the only source of rest for our souls.

Are you good at taking compliments? I’m not. I’m terrible at taking compliments. I don’t consider myself socially awkward on a regular basis, but when someone compliments me, I feel a bit like Mr. Bean. I might make strange movements that demonstrate my uncertainty in how to respond or reply. “Hey Adam, those are some nice new kicks you’ve got there.” Awkward pause. My kids say, “I like your cut G,” which apparently means “I like your haircut.” Strange smile.

I was in the hallway one afternoon after returning from Christmas break and I ran into my brother Simon. We hadn’t seen each other since returning so we shared a hug and kindnesses. We spoke about break and yada yada yada, and then Simon said something so profound, it left me speechless. SPEECHLESS YA’LL!! “Adam, you look rested.” It was the greatest and most challenging compliment I have even received. Nobody has ever told me I looked rested and I didn’t even know what I looked like..

What exactly is rest? Is it a state of being? Is it the result of our work and triumphs? No. Rest is our assurance in the guarantee of Christ to take our submissions of burdens, troubles, and wearies without reluctancy. In our song earlier, the lyrics said “I will rest in your love, in your life, and in your blood, you’re always with me.” In Matthew 11, Jesus says to take up his yoke, which means to be joined with him, to learn his steps and behaviors. Ultimately, this means that the only source of rest is found at the lowly position at the foot of the cross.

The yoke of the world is burdensome, troublesome, comparative, and self-interested, it is prideful, and it is a never-ending wheel of performance. Why? Because the world’s choir director is tone deaf! Societal pressure and Satan’s scramble-mode demeanor push us to believe that rest is what happens after reaching the highest possible position or vantage point based on our own doing. We call ourselves rested based on our position relative to our circumstances not on our nearness and closeness to God.

Why are we tired? We’ve made lists of things we need to do to prove we’re rested: Our eyes, our presence, our work, our attitude, our studies. The moment we think we haven’t achieved what it is we are supposed to achieve, we jump back in the oppressive yoke of the world. Satan wants us in that yoke because it pulls us further from God’s presence, who is the only source of spiritual rest for our souls. The rules and standards set by the oppressive yoke of the world are unattainable, physically, and spiritually this yoke trains us to view our lives from a position of defeat.

The yoke of the world measures us against stories, scales, and systems and leaves us broken. The yoke of the world trains us to view social media and compare our success stories to others’ success stories. Well, they’ve beaten me, so why should I try? It doesn’t matter if I try, I’m not able. I bet the reason they are rested is because they’re sitting at the top of the proverbial ladder. The yoke of the world wants us to measure ourselves against scales. It is a conditional yoke, one which drags our souls into a pit of frustration and anguish. The yoke of the world trains us to pile up expectations according to its systems. These situations, these circumstances, this yoke, drags us relentlessly, raging war against time and nature, leaving us beaten and pulverized by its weight and afflictions.

But glory be to our righteous Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who said ENOUGH! “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me.” Why? “Because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” The rest that is found in Jesus Christ is like the water that runs to its lowest point. Like water, our souls should be searching for rest downhill not uphill! Like water, we run ragged, being sprayed and shot from geysers, running in chaos from one shore to another, freezing and breaking from once iceberg to another before reaching our lowest point. At Jesus’ lowest point, he said “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Each of you should have two strips of fabric in front of you, along with a Crayola marker. We are going to listen to “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” and during this time you have an opportunity to take on the lowly position at the foot of the cross and take on the yoke of Jesus. What are the strongholds in your life that keep you from finding and experiencing rest for your soul? I want you to write those things down on these strips of fabric. What goes on one strip goes on the other one as well. When you are finished, bring the strips to the containers at the front of the room. Take your time and listen for God’s voice.

I want to read some of these to you. (momentary pause). Oh, but wait, the burden that was written on this piece of fabric is gone. Maybe I should check another. Same result. Brothers and sisters, unyoke yourselves from the burdens of the world’s stories, scales, and systems, and yoke yourself to Jesus Christ, who took on that lowly position on that cross so that we can experience rest for our souls. Amen. I invite Mario up to deliver our benediction.