Rest Area

Well folks, we made it... we finished our “U-Turns Allowed” message series. As we closed the series this past week, we explored the need to develop a healthy rhythm of living – working, and resting – as we continue in the long journey down Jesus Road (Rest Area).

The growth of the highway rest area arose during the interstate construction project under President Eisenhower. Rest areas — initially called, safety rest areas — were places for people to make a pit stop right off the highway to stretch their legs, use the restrooms, get some nourishment, and rest before resuming the journey. Additionally, the vision for these rest areas was to provide a park-like environment where people could experience some grass amongst the asphalt and take advantage of facilities that were to be built as an homage to local architecture as a way to help deal with the unintended consequences that the interstates had on the small towns that dried up when tourists were no longer traveling through.

You can see that the idea of the rest area has a pretty insightful spiritual connection with our journey down Jesus Road. We need a regular time and place to pause in the midst of our journey without exiting Jesus Road. We need time to recharge, replenish, refuel, and recover in the midst of a long journey. Without the proper rest, we will wear down so badly in mind, body, and soul that we are no use to self, others, or God. Just as a rest area on the highway provides regular opportunities for rest and replenish, God gave us sabbath to do the same for our spiritual lives.

The 4^th of the 10 Commandments is to remember the sabbath and keep it holy. Exodus 20:8-11 teaches us that God worked for 6 days creating the world and everything in it, and on the 7^th day, God rested. The sabbath, therefore, is a for us to remember God’s work, and to remind us to rest from ours.

Observing the sabbath requires a rhythmic discipline of learning to live, work, and rest with God. Admittedly, resting is something we often struggle with, because of the high value of work we place in our culture. But think about it: to not rest in the Lord is a violation of the 4^th Commandment and a sin. Staggering thought, isn’t it?

When we aren’t resting, we are wearing ourselves out, no doubt about it. Then when it comes to experience the rhythms of life and grace, we often have to force it, leaving us even more exhausted! Consider The Message version of Jesus’ words as recorded in Matthew 11:28-30, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Sounds great, doesn't it? Recovery of life…taking a real rest…learning the rhythms of life and grace from the Lord Jesus Himself. And it really is, but we’ll never get there if we do not take the time to recharge, replenish, refuel, and recover in the midst of life’s journey. We need rest areas so we can pause without exiting Jesus Road, keeping us sharp for the rest of our journey. This prevents us from getting worn out that we take matters into our own hands and refuse to yield to Jesus; we won’t get so burned out that we lose patience with others and refuse to help them merge onto Jesus Road; we won’t get so tired that we decide to quit (No Parking) at the first sign of trouble or hazards on the road (Slippery Road Ahead). We must remember that our journey down Jesus Road is a lifelong journey that begins when we decide to make a U-Turn to think and live differently, thanks to the love and grace of God.

U-Turns are allowed and will change your life! Keep easing on down the road, and don’t let the troubles of the world keep you from persevering. There are others in the world who need your life experience and perspective to help them keep going when the going gets tough, so continue to follow Jesus and learn to enjoy the regular and rhythmic rest that God gives (and commands!) you to take so you are ready for what the journey has in store for you.