AN INVITATION FROM JESUS

 

     Are you weary and beat down by Satan as you face the struggles of life? Are you weak from the storms that beat against your heart? Are you weak and heavy laden with life? Are you hurting from what sin had done to you? There is rest in Jesus for those who will come to Him. He said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” “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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

 

     Come to Jesus in order to have salvation. If anyone desires to serve God and enjoy salvation there is only one way. The one way is Jesus. God has not given a number of ways so that man may pick the one he likes best. God sent His Son to make His one way known to man. Near the close of His earthly ministry Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6) All who would enjoy the blessing of salvation must get into Christ now. To be in Christ is to be in His body, the church. It is in the body that we are reconciled to God and saved from sin. Christ died that He might "reconcile them both (Jew and Gentile) to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity." (Ephesians 2:16) According to the Bible, the only way to heaven is through the body of Christ, which is His church. (Colossians 1:18) Men and women are baptized into the one body of Christ. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:13) To become a Christian, you must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of sins (Acts 17:30), confess Christ as Lord (Matthew 16:16), and be baptized into Christ. (Galatians 3:26-27) This is the Bible way of salvation. There is no other way to be at peace with God and man. Come to Jesus in order to have salvation.

 

     Come to Jesus in order to have peace. There is an emptiness inside everyone which cannot be filled with material things, drugs, alcohol, and pleasure or anything but Jesus. People are searching for peace and Jesus offers us rest and peace. He said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27) If you want the peace of God you must be willing for Jesus to come in to your life and rule your daily walk. Man must learn that, "the key to real joy is for God to rule my life." The only way to true peace of mind is submission to the will of God. Paul wrote, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7) The peace of God is to rule our heart. "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15) Come to Jesus in order to have true peace.

 

     Come to Jesus in order to have happiness. True happiness is in Christ. Those who serve God faithfully will have happiness here and hereafter. Hear the words of Matthew 25:21, "His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord." Christian people should be happy people. Paul writes, "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4) Those who surrender to the will of Christ, revealed in the New Testament, find true happiness through Jesus. Come to Jesus in order to have happiness.

    

     Come to Jesus in order to have spiritual rest. In that Great Invitation Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who la­bor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” You must come to Jesus, the one who went to the cross, and died as a sacrifice for your sin. He knows the sins you have done, He still loves you and wants you to have spiritual rest. The Lords wants you to have spiritual rest because He sees you as infinitely valuable and precious, and He is always ready to forgive you. The promise of rest is not unconditional. It is based upon our coming to Jesus, learning of Him and obeying His will. Those who serve the Lord faithfully will have rest now and eternal rest at the end of their labors. John wrote, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” (Revelation 14:13) Spiritual rest belongs to those who are in the Lord and who die in Him.

     Come to Jesus in order to have a spiritual feast. A great spiritual feast has been prepared by the Lord. The invitation has been sent saying, "Come for all things are now ready." (Luke 14:17) Come to Jesus to have all your sins forgiven. Come to Jesus to enjoy spiritual blessings in Christ. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3) Allow Christ to come into your life so you can enjoy this feast. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20) Come to Jesus in order to have a spiritual feast

     Come to Jesus in order in order to go to heaven when you die. How beautiful and wonderful heaven will be. Jesus promised, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:1-2) Some modern translations say, "In my Fathers house are many rooms." But I am not looking for a room I am looking for a mansion. Jesus is the door by which we can enter heaven. It is through Jesus that we must enter heaven in order to have the blessings and joys prepared for those who love God.

 

     The result of coming, taking Jesus’ yoke and learning from Him is receiving rest; in Jesus you receive emotional, spiritual and eternal rest. To get into Christ a person must hear the gospel (John 6:44-45), believe in Jesus as the Christ (Mark 16:16), repent of sins (Luke 13:3), confess faith in Jesus (Matthew 10:32-33), and be baptized to be saved. (1 Peter 3:21) Once in Christ a person must continue faithful. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58) You can know that you are a Christian if you are no longer living by your own will, but you have surrendered to the Lord and are you are seeking to live out God’s will in your life.

 

By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, 306 Walnut Street, Greenville, Alabama 36037