Life can be so congested. Traffic on our roadways is bumper to bumper in many places, sidewalks and shopping malls are crowded, more and more planes fill the sky each year, the airways contain more and more news, the internet web pages multiply at an astounding rate. There are even specialists in organization who will come into your office or home to help you get rid of clutter. Even our minds become cluttered with information. People want to “get away” from it all and seek the “wide open spaces” to unclutter their lives and minds.
Isaac’s herdsmen attempted to find some “wide open spaces” for his herds and flocks but neighboring tribes kept competing with them for each new area that was selected. Finally, a place was found where they were allowed to graze their animals peacefully. Isaac named the area Rehoboth, “God has made room for us”. (Genesis 26:22).
God has made a place for us in eternity. (John 14:1-3)
1Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me.
2In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
The Bible / Old Testament (Psalm 18:1-19)
1I love thee, O Jehovah, my strength.
2Jehovah is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I will take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.
3I will call upon Jehovah, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from mine enemies.
4The cords of death compassed me, And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
5The cords of Sheol were round about me; The snares of death came upon me.
6In my distress I called upon Jehovah, And cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of his temple, And my cry before him came into his ears.
7Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations also of the mountains quaked And were shaken, because he was wroth.
8There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, And fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it.
9He bowed the heavens also, and came down; And thick darkness was under his feet.
10And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; Yea, he soared upon the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness his hiding-place, his pavilion round about him, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
12At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, Hailstones and coals of fire.
13Jehovah also thundered in the heavens, And the Most High uttered his voice, Hailstones and coals of fire.
14And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yea, lightnings manifold, and discomfited them.
15Then the channels of waters appeared, And the foundations of the world were laid bare, At thy rebuke, O Jehovah, At the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.
16He sent from on high, he took me; He drew me out of many waters.
17He delivered me from my strong enemy, And from them that hated me; For they were too mighty for me.
18They came upon me in the day of my calamity; But Jehovah was my stay.
19He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because he delighted in me.
God loves you. God delights in you. That may be a difficult concept for you to comprehend because there are days when we do not even love ourselves. God, knowing all about us, still loves us. He loves us enough to offer us a way of redemption for our sinfulness. He loves us enough to offer us a place with Him for eternity. God’s hand is extended to you in love. What will be your response?
The Bible / New Testament (Luke 14:16-23)
16But he said unto him, A certain man made a great supper; and he bade many:
17and he sent forth his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
18And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a field, and I must needs go out and see it; I pray thee have me excused.
19And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused.
20And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
21And the servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor and maimed and blind and lame.
22And the servant said, Lord, what thou didst command is done, and yet there is room.
23And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and constrain them to come in, that my house may be filled.
The words of a hymn, “Have You Any Room for Jesus?”, penned by an unknown writer in 1935 with music by C. C. Williams ask a very penetrating question. It asks if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. That is, first admitting that you have come short of what God expects of you, “sinned” to use the Biblical term, and have violated God’s eternal moral laws. This is known as “confessing your sin to God”. The next step is to accept that Jesus Christ paid, with His sinless life, the price for your sin when He died on a cross on Mt. Calvary. It is by this combination of repentance (regretting your sin before God) and faith (faith that Christ’s substitutionary death for you on the cross satisfies God’s requirements for you to be forgiven for your sin) that you can be assured of being accepted into God’s presence for eternity.
In today’s busy lifestyle filled with all kinds of activities, do you take time to think about Jesus? You might consider taking time to think about Jesus life, His message, and His ministry in relationship to your own life. What has Jesus said that could affect your life today? How could what Jesus said affect your words and actions today?
Listen to the message of this hymn, “Have You Any Room for Jesus”.
“Have you any room for Jesus, He Who bore your load of sin?
As He knocks and asks admission, sinner will you let Him in?”
Chorus
Room for Jesus King of glory! Hasten now, His word obey.
Swing the heart’s door widely open, bid Him enter while you may.
“Room and time now give to Jesus. Soon will pass God’s day of grace.
Soon thy heart left cold and silent, and thy Savior’s pleading cease.”
Chorus
Room for Jesus King of glory! Hasten now, His word obey.
Swing the heart’s door widely open, bid Him enter while you may.