Monday, November 7, 2011
Happy Endings
All of us love stories with happy endings. In most cases, most of us have a sour taste in our mouth when we watch a show or drama presentation that doesn’t end on a high note. We love to see the bad guys lose and the good guys win.
But did you know that there’s something we love even more than happy endings? We love stories with a twist. We love to see it when we can’t figure out who’s guilty or even how the story is going to end. We love the twist in the story.
God in his amazing creativity and unduplicated uniqueness has created a twist in the story of our lives. Most of us have missed it and are still guessing who the real culprit is.
We’re (believers) frustrated, stressed, overwhelmed, tired, and can’t find rest. Our (believers) bodies are worn down, diseases are rampant, blood pressures are out of control, and our immune systems are broken down. We have all of this, not to mention the issue of weight control. And God in his uniqueness has put a twist in the plot that deals with all of these health issues. The twist is rest.
Over and over again, the Bible speaks about the need for adequate rest, relaxation and rejuvenation. Isn’t it amazing that even on “vacations,” we’re not resting? Have you ever thought about how long it takes most people to regularly fall asleep? Isn’t it surprising that the people that should be carrying the full inheritance of God’s best are being short-changed because we missed the twist in the storyline.
Where did we get this overwhelming sense to be busy? Some only feel like they are ‘something’ or ‘somebody’ if they are busy doing something. When the truth is that they are only speeding up their deterioration process because they don’t know how to adequately slow down.
A younger minister had the opportunity to listen to the wisdom of an older, much wiser preacher. The wiser ambassador shared, “If I had to go back to rewind time, I would spend more time with my wife and children. I would read more and pray more often just to connect with God without an agenda. And most of all, I would rest more.” There’s truth in this for all of us.
While the Bible speaks of healings and miracles as a part of being a Christ follower, one of the best preventive maintenance techniques that God has provided is the principle of rest. Imagine the strength of this – God thought it important enough that he put it in the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20: 8-11). He even laid the principle down for us to follow when He created and formed the heavens and earth. God didn’t get tired, but he knew the effects of us being tired. And whether you are convinced yet or not, your level of health is directly correlated to your level of consistent rest. The statistics, studies and scholars have studied it. Wisdom proves it. And the Bible backs it all up. In many cases, if we want our health to improve, we need to get rest. Notice who Christ invites to come to Him for rest – the “weary and burdened.” (Matt. 11:28)
As the plot of our lives meanders through twists, turns and transitions, the best happy ending that God has scripted is for us to be healthy, even as our soul prospers (3 John 2). A picture of a powerful spirit, strong mind, and great health is one of happy endings. Anything else would only mean that the bad guys would win. None of us want that.
Scripture Of The Day: "For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day." - Exodus 20:11 (NIV)
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