ONLY RETURN

I was noodling around in the Genesis story of Noah. Thought I would review the text before I saw the new, already controversial, movie “Noah,” that’s due for release March 28, staring Russell Crowe as Noah. In the eighth chapter we’re told that the Ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat and after 265 days Noah opens the window sends out a raven and a dove to check out the receding water. If you recall, the dove made three recon flights. The second returned an olive branch indicating life had returned to the earth and the third indicated living life had a new fresh start. So, after one year in the Ark, God sends Noah, his family, and all its creatures out into a new genesis.

The dove’s first attempt in verse nine is a worthy word to footnote. “But the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot, and she returned into the ark to him, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her, and drew her into the ark to himself.” (Genesis 8:9)
The dove flew here-and-there in search of a place to perch—finding no place to rest. Exhausted in its efforts, the dove wearily returns to the ark—its only resting place. The bird struggled to reach the ark. All the while Noah kept a watch-out for his feathered messenger. Seeing the dove in distress, struggling to stay aloft having just enough in her to reach the edge of the ship, “he put out his hand and took her, and drew her into the ark to himself.” She flew as far as she could. Mercy extended its hand to this wandering, weary creature and was pulled into the ark.
Have you been wandering around seeking a place to rest your weary sinful self? Your rest awaits, all that is necessary is to return. “Only return—nothing else is needed. The dove came back with nothing to show for its wanderings—no hope to offer, just itself. “Only return”—you will be received. God’s out stretched hand of mercy is in front of you right now! Take it! Stop backsliding! Fly into his grace!
“‘Return, backsliding Israel,’ says the Lord; ‘I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I am merciful,’ says the Lord; ‘I will not remain angry forever’” (Jeremiah 3:12). Note that God doesn’t say here in this text, “Return, repenting Israel,” but backslider. God offers to you a gracious word—“return.” Every moment you spend waiting only increases your misery. Stop looking for the right time. Come to Jesus just as you are—black as a raven mucked-up with sin—He is waiting with arms wide open to draw you in to Himself—the only place for your heart’s true rest.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The 80-20 Rule

In 1906, Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto created a mathematical formula to describe the unequal distribution of wealth in his country, observing that twenty percent of the people owned eighty percent of the wealth. The Pareto Principle, or 80/20 rule, states that 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.   Although this rule was first applied in Italy when Pareto was looking at the dispersal of wealth, it has since become a rule of thumb for many businesses.   It has been said that 20% of your workforce does 80% of the work, or 80% of your sales come from 20% of your clients.   I think this law comes into play in our lives as well.   Life is 20% what happens to you and 80% what you make of it. There are tons of stories about people who come out of difficult situations — gang life, in and out of jail, drug addiction, broken families, abuse – yet still seem to rise to the top.   And of course, there are many stories of those who have been given everything they would n
Read more

FREEDOM’S PRICE

In 1781, the Fourth of July was named a national holiday and today fireworks, parades and picnics still mark this celebration. Because on July 4, 1776 The Declaration of Independence proclaimed the thirteen colonies free from British rule. What proceeded and followed this declaration were the historic battles still taught in every elementary school. For six years the colonies shook with the Battles of Concord and Lexington, Bunker Hill and Saratoga. The war finally ended at Valley Forge where British General Cornwallis surrendered to what would be the United States’ first president, George Washington. Two years later the British and the Americans signed a peace treaty in France. Freedom does not come without a price. Through the Revolutionary War our nation’s freedom was paid for by the blood and sacrifice of the men and women who fought for their dream of what would become the United States. The battles were not easy, and the years took their toll on our young nation. In t
Read more

SIN-GUARD

There is a very real and malicious force at work in your life. It's your sinful nature, and it never stops trying to get the best of you. The apostle Paul expresses it in these terms; “But if I do what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it” (Romans 7:20). That sounds close to, “Don't blame it on me!   The devil made me do it.” But Paul is not saying that. You cannot shift the blame for your actions to anyone or anything else, but you do need to be aware that your sinful nature is a very real, very powerful, very destructive presence in your life. Since the time you accepted Jesus Christ into your life, you have two natures — almost like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. You have a higher nature, a new nature that you received when God's Spirit came to dwell within you. And you have the resident old nature, the sinful nature, whose presence remains with you as long as you are flesh and bones. This nature never gives u
Read more