AND YE SHALL FIND REST by T. E. Bowen

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 22, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 43.

“AND YE SHALL FIND REST.”

By T. E. Bowen

THERE is only one place of rest in all the universe, and that place is in Jesus Christ. The wicked have no rest. Our experience in sin shows us that this is so, and because it is so the Scripture puts our experience into words thus: “The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it can not rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.” The eye soon tires watching the restless waves. It longs for something quiet, calm, and peaceful.

Because there is no rest in sin, and because there is a desire for rest in the soul of men, therefore God has provided rest. It is not within ourselves. Sin can not rest, and every one of us has “sinned and come short of the glory of God,” therefore it is useless to look within for the peace and rest so much desired.

Listen to the sweet voice ringing down the centuries, in clear tones of celestial entreaty and love, which may be heard above the din of strife, the clamor for place and fame, from the lowly Man of Galilee: “Come unto Me, all ye that labor 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 rest is found in the meekness and lowliness we shall learn of the Lord after we get into His presence. “I am meek and lowly in heart,” He says. He is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever; therefore the Jesus of to-day is a meek and lowly-in-heart Redeemer, the same as when He uttered first this blessed invitation.

It is the love of self, the self-esteem, the pride of heart, which causes us so much trouble. While we are trying to climb into prominence, to get a name among men, the living Christ is continuing His walk among the lowly at the foot of the hill. Were Jesus to address many to-day who profess to be His followers, He would be obliged to say unto them as He did to one of old trying to find Him, “Come down, Zaccheus.” Many fail to find Jesus because they are looking too high. The human heart is vain and is easily lifted up in pride. One of the things the Lord abhors is a proud look. It certainly seems a strange thing that man, poor, helpless, and weak, that he is, should be asked to come down and walk with his God, the infinite Creator of untold and numberless worlds; but such is the case, “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to humble thyself to walk with thy God.” Micah 6:8, margin.

Here is the rest, here is the peace, the world knows nothing about. This is where Jesus found it, in a meek and lowly spirit. There is no peace outside of it; no rest can be found in all the earth outside this lowly path.

Are you crushed with life's heavy burdens? Rest will not be found in taking your life, nor taking drugs, nor taking strong drink. No; the remedy is in coming directly to Jesus. “Come unto Me,” He says. Come just as you are, come in all your need, come even tho your poor soul is full of guilt. “I will give you rest.” It is a free gift of His love for you. Take it. There is no mistake about it. If you come, “Ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Don't doubt His word. You might just as well have the peace as not. Thousands have experienced it, and their lives were as rugged as is yours, perhaps more so. Is it not worth the seeking? In this fearful age of the world's unrest, is not genuine peace and rest of mind valuable enough to put forth earnest effort to obtain it?

Gold can not buy it, neither is it in a combine or trust. “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto Me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.”

Rome N. Y. T. E. BOWEN.