The Hiding Place

         My sister once told me that what she really wanted in life was to have a small home in Elkins, West Virginia, a cup of hot chocolate and an Irish Setter, all sitting in front of a fireplace on a snowy winter evening. She never came close to achieving any of those things as she eventually passed away in a nursing facility in Peoria, Illinois. We may all have some picture in our minds of our “secret place” or that place where we could find peace and rest in the midst of a busy world that is plagued with war, famine and pestilence. If you were born in Aleppo, Syria, you probably don't even have a chair to sit on. I have mentioned before that when I was young, my secret hiding place was in the center of a very large Lilac bush on our property. In the summer time with all of its leaves, no one could see me inside of the bush. Years later, the bush gave way to just being able to travel home and to relax with the aroma of home cooked beef with Mom's home made noodles. Rest may stir up any number of pictures in your mind. It may be some place in your past, or a special retreat spot, or going home or even in a coffee shop in the middle of the city. Matthew 11:28-29 says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour 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.”

          The people in the time of the New Testament when Christ walked upon the earth were also seeking for a place to rest. The zealots wanted to get rid of any oppressor nation that was over them which at that time was the Roman government. The tax collectors were always bickering with the people about the taxes and so it was not so different than today's world. Then, along comes the Lord Jesus Christ with the most amazing offer. He offered rest to those who were always working and who were under heavy burden day in and day out. Christ offered them rest for their souls and who wouldn't want rest? We are here in the year 2020, which equates to 2,020 years since Christ took on flesh and headed to the cross of Calvary. We open the Word of God and read about the same offer as we see it in Matthew, chapter eleven. The offer is still open to each and every person regardless of their education, station in life, color of their skin or political position, or even where they were born. Many have heard it before but fail to believe in it because it just seems to simple to be true, but it is. You probably have read about it hundreds of times in your lifetime and you may have heard it preached on many times in your church or on the radio or at a tent meeting, or just wherever you might have been. Some talk about their secret closet, or their hiding place or their comfort station. We had a cat for a time that when danger came, she would run into my bedroom and crawl literally under the covers and would not come out until the danger had passed. Well, we can do that but it is not a physical blanket or a cabin in the West Virginia mountains, or sitting on the beach with the sound of the surf but it is safe in the arms of Jesus. He said, He will give us rest. What can be better than that? Praise God today for the safety He provides in our daily storms of life.