"The Ark Of Rest"

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Mathew 11:28 

This scripture has come up several times to me over the last couple of weeks. The Lord keeps bringing me back to the subject of rest. I believe that is because rest is not an "event". It is not something that happens to you one time. It is not something that happens periodically like a holiday. Rest is not a thing, or an emotional state, rest is a place. It is a place where we are to dwell. As Christians we should be living in a place called "Rest". 

 

Where is that place you ask? To find it you must realize that it is not just a place either, it is a person-- the Lord Jesus and God the Father. He is the place of rest. He is our dwelling place. That place is found in Him because it is Him. "Come unto Me, and I will give you rest."

 

The place of rest is not to be misunderstood as deliverance "from" problems, trials, temptations, heartaches. Instead, it is safety "in", or during, problems, trials, temptations and heartaches. The rain was falling, the flood waters were rising, people were screaming and dying all around Noah, he wasn't delivered out the flood, but he was safe and protected during it. He was in a dwelling place-- the ark. It was now his home, it was now his shelter, it was his refuge. As long as Noah stayed in the ark he was protected during the rain. As long as he remained in the ark the flood waters could not drown or destroy him. It was his safe haven; therefore, he had nothing to fear. He could "rest"- be at peace inwardly. 

 

The Lord is our "ark"-- our place of safety, shelter, refuge, protection and rest. As long as we "abide" in Him, we can rest knowing that He surrounds us and keeps us safe. Even though there may be "flood waters" all around us, as long as we dwell in Him, we don't have to worry or fear that they will drown us-- that is rest.

 

Have a great day. The Lord Himself is our place of rest. 

 

For further reading:

John 15:4,7

Psalm 91:1

1 John 2:28