PEACEFUL ROCK

I headed for a place I know,

not wanting any clock,

where my burdened ears can hear the flow,

resting well on Peaceful Rock.

By the brook, I’ll sit and close my eyes,

where the canopy is thick,

and contentment there I’ll realize,

as I hear the water skip.

I will sit for many hours there,

or at least what seems to be,

and I’ll hear the water sing His care,

of the love He has for me.

And my troubles will go down the way,

where the ravens tend to flock,

yet the perfect peace of God will stay,

trusting well on Peaceful Rock.

Come unto me, all ye that labour 

and are heavy laden, 

and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

PEACEFUL ROCK

But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before.

Acts 3:18-20

To bask in times of refreshing given from being in the presence of the Lord is the only way the soul restores. To have sins blotted out is the only way we gain eternal life. Knowing sins are as white as snow because of the atoning sacrifice of God's Anointed One is the only way the heart is lifted.

If only Korah had repented of his ways, he might not have ended up in the gruesome death he did. We read about his demise in the book of Numbers, chapter 16. He and his friends, who were well-known leaders and council members, led 250 Levite men against Moses and his brother Aaron, both serving as priests and appointed by God. Moses said to Korah,

"Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the LORD, And what is Aaron that you complain against him?"

Number 16:11

Moses knew that when Korah went against him and his brother, Korah was also going against God. That was not wise. When Korah and his followers twisted the truth, Moses grew angry and told God. Then, Moses instructed Korah and the 250 men to present incense in their censers at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting along with he and Aaron. God's glory appeared, followed by God speaking to Moses.

"Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment."

Numbers 16:21

Yikes! When God talks like this, you're in big trouble! There's no wiggle room in that command. So, knowing the incredible power of God Almighty better than Korah and his company did, Moses and Aaron fell facedown, pleading for Korah's life and those of the gathered group. But, God had already made His decision.

So the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the congregation (to the Israelites not with Korah), saying, 'Get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.'" Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. And he spoke to the congregation, saying, "Depart now from the tents of these wicked men! Touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins." So they got away from around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, with their wives, their sons, and their little children. And Moses said: "By this you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will. If these men die naturally like all men, or if they are visited by the common fate of all men, then the LORD has not sent me. But if the LORD creates a new thing, and then earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the LORD." Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.

Numbers 16:23-33

Korah and his followers had rejected God's authority. If Korah had changed his mind and repented, things might have been different for him. But, everyone following the rebellion he led paid for it with their lives. Korah's decision ended the lives of 250 men in cahoots with him, their wives and even children, in an unnatural, horrific death.

At Korah's opposition, Moses had taken his frustrations to the LORD, and the LORD helped deliver Moses. Pray that we can learn from Korah's mistake. God is merciful and slow to anger. He is loving and kind, and His Son, Jesus Christ, loves us very much. He proved that on the cross! But there will come a day when God will execute His wrath. The Day of the Lord is coming, as explained in His Word, and sins not blotted out will go down into the pit where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. God Himself does not wish this for anyone. Yet, people perish every day. He will not force anyone to believe in His Son, but to come to Him willingly.

Live in Christ's steadfast love and powerful provision of salvation by believing in Him, resting on Peaceful Rock, and holding to the eternal blessings that come from the decision to repent.