R.I.P.

Rest in Peace….a very common phase when people die. Our hope is that they rest in peace in the afterlife. I’ve been thinking a lot about this phrase because there has been a lot of death this week but I suppose there is a lot of death every week. It’s sad and it’s hard.

In thinking about this phrase and mulling it over- I think it is a better statement for the living. Rest in Peace. The reality is only if we REST IN PEACE here and now can we have the security of resting in peace after death because Hebrews 9:27 says, “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” Resting in peace after death is completely contingent on resting in His offer of peace while living.

Jesus Christ is our Peace. Ephesians 2:13-14, “But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.” Paul is talking about the Body of Christ being both Jew and Gentile, but one of his main points is; we all needed peace and Jesus provided it! Every one of us is born at war with God, enemies by our position of being born in sin. Sin is not what we do, it is the state in which we are born in and need rescue from. In other words, we need peace and we need it now!

Jesus came for that reason…to give peace. Romans 5:1, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus Christ came to make peace…by walking out a life under God’s law of perfection and walking it perfectly, then willingly laying down His life and taking on the wrath of the war, the judgment of sin. 2 Corinthians 5:21, “He (the Father) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Jesus died, was buried and He rose again on the morning of the third day….for peace, with peace, in peace and now….offering peace!

Now we must rest. Oh my sister….when Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-29, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest, take My Yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” This is rest from the war…rest from the lack of peace with God and rest from working to be at peace, because we can never work enough. This rest is what is offered by His finished work on the Cross….Resting in Peace. Resting and Trusting go hand in hand. When we trust we rest. So today….are you Resting in Peace? Have you seen your need for peace in the first place? If you have are you continuing to rest? Rest in Peace- a wonderful and very true statement for the living. Jesus Christ is our Peace-Rest in Peace today.