Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell

“For David speaketh concerning him, ‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” (Acts 2:25-27)

This is Peter speaking on the day of Pentecost. Though Christ took upon him the sins of the world, he was not left in hell, nor will we be, if we repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. If we but accept Christ atonement and repent we change our lives daily as we stand before God in prayer giving an accounting of the day we can lay down in rest.  It sounds so simple and yet, don’t we sometimes have a restless night, unwilling to let go and let God handle it. I know I do being the hardheaded individual that I am it’s sometimes hard to let go.      

A house of the Lord

“Then David the king stood upon his feet… I had in my mind to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord.” (1 Chronicles 28:2)

David was speaking here of building a Temple, but he was not allowed to do so because he had been a man of war. That is an entire different sermon about how war and anger and such affect our spirituality, but the subject today is rest. The Temple is a special place set aside for the Lord where those clean enough to enter can find rest, but should not our homes be dedicated to the Lord as well. Not in the same way as the Temple, but as much as possible and still be a home. Shouldn't it be a safe place of rest from the outside world.   

Elijah went up by whirlwind into heaven

“And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven, and Elisha saw it…He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him…And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, ‘the spirit of Elijah doth rest upon Elisha.” ( 2 Kings 2: 11-15)  

Many things comes to my mind as I read these verses and apply them to me in this day. Things like the Light of Christ and how you can see it on some people’s faces. I think of today’s cosmetics, which sometimes contain glitter. All the oil and glitter in the world cannot equal the shine that comes from the Light of Christ within us.    

Enjoy....The Lord hath given you...

After Moses died it was given to Joshua to lead the people across Jordan into the promise land. Joshua commanded the officers to have the people prepare victuals because in three days they would pass over Jordan. In other words they were going to have a holiday and rest before beginning the task of moving the families, the women, the children and all their belongings, with their cattle across the river.   Joshua reminded them that, “The Lord your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land… then ye shall return unto the land of your possessions and enjoy it.” (Joshua 1: 13&15)  

Contrary to the way some workaholics think, the Lord does not want you to your labor all your days with a sad sorrowful demeanor.  We should take time each day to give thanks, for the simple things. We need to appreciate the beauty of the earth, our children, our friends, and to enjoy life that we might have rest.    

Show me now thy way

“Now therefore, if I have found grace in my sight, show me now thy way. That I might know thee, that I might find grace in thy sight; and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said my presence shall go with thee and I shall give thee rest.”  (Exodus 33:13 &14)

I love Moses simple plea here. Show me thy way that I might know thee. And having received the way the Lord would have us go, will we follow it? Yes, we say, but will we? Will I? Will peer pressure make me forget even after I have received it?

...he giveth you rest from all your enemies...

“For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which the Lord your God giveth you, but when you go over Jordon and dwell in the land which the Lord your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about so that ye dwell in safety.” (Deuteronomy 12:9 -11)