Return and Rest
This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: "Only in returning to (repenting) me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence (trust) is your strength. But you would have none of it." Isaiah 30:15 NLT
The last seven words of this text spoil it all. Why? Why would Israel have none of it – the salvation and strength that comes from returning to God, resting in His work for them, and quietly trusting in Him? Why would they refuse this gracious offer? What could be better than this? What would they want to hold on to instead?
Perhaps an answer could be found in an interaction between Charlie Brown and Lucy.
In a Peanuts comic strip, Lucy and Charlie Brown practice football. Lucy holds the ball for Charlie's placekicking and then Charlie kicks the ball. But every time Lucy holds the ball for Charlie Brown, at the moment he kicks the ball, Lucy picks up the ball and Charlie Brown's momentum -- unchecked by the ball -- causes him to fall flat on his back. Over and over, this is how it plays out, or down!
Another strip opens with Lucy holding the ball, but Charlie Brown would not kick the ball. Lucy begs him to kick the ball, but Charlie Brown says, "Every time I try to kick the ball you remove it and I fall on my back." They go back and forth for the longest time and finally Lucy breaks down in tears and admits, "Charlie Brown I have been so terrible to you over the years, picking up the football like I have. I have played so many cruel tricks on you, but I've seen the error of my ways! I've seen the hurt look in your eyes when I've deceived you. I've been wrong, so wrong. Won't you give a poor penitent girl another chance?"
Charlie Brown is moved by her display of grief and responds to her, "Of course, I'll give you another chance." He steps back as she holds the ball, and he runs. At the last moment, Lucy picks up the ball and Charlie Brown falls flat on his back.
Lucy's last words are, "Recognizing your faults and actually changing your ways are two different things, Charlie Brown!"
Lucy would not change her ways. And Israel would not change her ways. There is something about holding on to our ways – our ways that keeps us from everything God wants us to have: the fullness of salvation, strength to meet every challenge – that is difficult to explain.
Perhaps it’s too painful to let go of our ways. Perhaps the uncertainty of letting go our ‘security blanket’ is too scary.
What if we should decide that the pain of holding on to what will fail us in the end is far greater than the pain of letting go what we now cherish for the unknown that God will lead us into?
Often we are sorry for the wrong we do, but being sorry for what we have done is not the same thing as repentance. Repentance, or if you prefer, returning to God, is more than sorrow. It is action; a series of actions, taken in response to our gracious God whose offer of salvation and strength brings us to submission.
Dwell on the grace of God and see it become the greatest incentive and power to change your ways, to return and rest.
By Pastor Ivan Blake |
Download the 
Listen to "