Getting Rid of Excess Baggage:
The Road to His Rest in 2024.
It was the Christmas season; everyone was preparing to return to the village - joining family members in the once-a-year meetings and celebrations. For us, it’s been a while since we left home. It promised to be a great family reunion, with the accompanying baggage of distributing gifts to village people as proof that ‘we’ve been out there, and have arrived.’
Oblivious of the luggage weight limit, we filled our traveling bags with pieces of materials destined for showcasing our new status.
But it was not to be. Each of our bags was overstuffed. We were forced to unbag and shed off the excesses. A whole bag of excess stuff was taken back by our daughter-in-law who saw us to the airport.
As we come to the end of the Year 2023, and prepare to enter the new year 2024, we give thanks and all glory to God, the Father, and to our Lord Jesus Christ who laid down his life so that you and I may live life in abundance. Many who started the year 2023 with us are no more on this side of eternity. However, we are alive not because of anything we have done, but because there is an appointed time for every one of us.
As we approach the end of 2023, I began to reflect on daunting questions about life, and the world: Why for instance, are there so many problems in the world? Turn to any part, it’s all about one crisis or the other. The stories are the manifestation of hatred, hunger, struggles, pain, disease, wars, and destruction.
Are these the best human civilization can offer?
Consider the match of civilisation over the centuries - from the primitive man to the modern/civilized man. These are happening at the level of human interpersonal, interracial, and international relationships. A similar sentiment is echoed in nature. Heavy flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, overheating, extreme weather - all leading to deaths and destruction. The gods are angry, my people would say.
Human civilizations and advancement have only multiplied deaths and destruction. Technological advancement means increased human capacity to destroy fellow humans and the world. Where is God in all of these? And where do we go from here?
Jesus called out:
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt. 11: 28-30).
This call speaks to different categories of people who labor and are heavy laden: First, many in our world are laboring and under pressure - struggling through life without hope here and hereafter. Others are struggling to make ends meet; while many who have more than they need and not knowing how best to use them, chose to showcase their wealth and power by making life intolerable for others. So human suffering is multiplied, and more souls are lost daily.
In one sense, many of us fall into one or the other of these categories. Looking onto Jesus as our model, we see where we fall short and the need to make amends. His message will always resonate with believers at all levels.
We can begin to shed off our excess baggage as we come to the end of one year, and prayerfully look forward to entering a more purposeful, peaceful and productive 2024.
Life is a series of choices and nobody can stop you from making your choice. You will be judged at the end of the day by the choice you made.
Now Jesus is calling you to personally get the new year started with Him. He is stretching out his hands seeking to relieve you of the crushing burden of life. He is saying, “You cannot by yourself cope with the troubles of life without Him. “Pass all the troubles in your life to me and take your rest, I will carry your burden.” “Rest your soul and enjoy the peace I alone can give” in 2024. Jesus pleads.
The Lord says to the world: “Stop killing one another” Take My yoke upon you. My yoke is easy and My burden is light: Here’s the blueprint:
First step is the Golden Rule: “Love God, and love your neighbor as your self.” (Mark 12:30-31). “Do to others what you would have others do to you: Every culture has this rule expressed in different ways: Some say “if you want to make friends, you must be friendly. People react according to the influences brought to bear on them. “If you want peace, live in peace with others - be peaceful.”
Christ’s messge is about moving from self-centered living to God-centered living. God is love. He demonstrated His love to humankind by giving His one and only Son. Giving is godly. There is a big difference between giving and taking. Giving leaves positive impact upon the receiver. Most of human troubles begin from taking what does not belong to us.
There are two sides to a human being. Psychologists speak of ego and conscience, interpreted as the lower self and the higher self; if you like, the self-centered nature and the God-centered nature. They are saying in other words, there are two selves in each of us - with two contrary viewpoints. The self-centered nature is a formidable enemy of the God-centered nature, struggling fiercely to retain its identity. But when the God-centered nature takes over, peace reigns (2 Corinth. 10:4-5).
The God-centered nature is the right attitude to life - it’s the (narrow) gate to life in abundance. A willingness to face life squarely beyond the surface of body and soul existence. Not to face life problems squarely would be to drift through life; while solving life problems by the light from above, brings a believer into harmony with the King and His kingdom.
Peace on the Earth begins with God’s peace in one heart. The Gospel is the good news of peace on earth and goodwill to all men.
Let’s make 2024, the Year of our Rest — casting our cares upon Him.
