FIND SOUL-REST IN THE LORD
The Lord Jesus Christ loved the world enough to come and die on a cross to save people from sin, and give them eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 6:23). And he said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). The Lord makes an appeal to every soul: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest… and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).
The Lord knows that everyone has a need to come to him. When some people hear the Lord’s appeal, they immediately recognize their soul’s need, and come to Jesus. But attraction to the things of this world may hinder, delay or prevent others from feeling the need of their soul to come to Jesus. Yet, because of his great love, the Lord continues to make his appeal.
A BIBLE PARABLE MIGHT SHEDS SOME LIGHT ON HOW A PERSON MAY FIND SOUL-REST.
“The Parable of the Prodigal Son,” told by the Lord Jesus Christ, might give some insight Into how a person may come to find rest for their soul.
The Lord said: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to[b] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[c] 22 But the father said to his servants,[d] ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand,and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate” (Luke 15:11-24).
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
THE FOLLOWING MAY BE SEEN OR DERIVED FROM THIS PARABLE.
In this parable, The Father may symbolize our loving heavenly Father. However, Jesus said: “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30)–“Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:8).
The younger son may represent any mature child who is restless in his soul and wandered away from his Father’s home. After being disappointed by riotous living and misdirected people of the world, the child may remember his loving Father, and finds his way back home. The heavenly Father, always welcome his “lost” child home with loving arms.
The older son, who stayed home, may be seen as lost in another way—He lacked the Father’s Spirit which produces love and happiness in the soul (Galatians 5:22). But the Father still reaches out to him with love and understanding.
SOME PEOPLE SEEK SOUL OR FULL SATISFACTION THE WRONG WAY.
People who feel restless or unsatisfied might seek fulfillment in “everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—[things which] comes not from the Father but from the world” (1 John 2:16). This might include ungodly or obsessive attraction pleasures of the flesh, money, possessions, positions, and other earthly things their heart desires.
The biblical Word of God ask such people: “Why do you spend money [and effort]… for what not does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me… and delight yourself in abundance” of things that are good for the soul” (Isaiah 55:2; Colossians 3:1-2).
And the Word also ask: “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? (Mark 836; Hebrews 9:27)”.
SOME SEEK AND FIND SOUL FULFILLMENT THE RIGHT WAY.
In another place the Bible says: “he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for “‘In him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:26-28). And the Word adds, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13).
The Son of God, Jesus Christ clearly tells us: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). And “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit” (John 7:37-39).
IN FINDING THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WE FIND ETERNAL SOUL-REST.
The Scriptures of the Bible say: There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his” (Hebrews 4:10).
“I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” (Revelation 14:13).
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said: “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may [forever] be where I am.” (John 14:2-3, 1Thessalonians 4:17).
