Most of our young readers are looking forward to having a vacation very shortly. Perhaps it may be for a week, or it may be longer, hut it is so good to get away from the daily routine of school, office, or workshop, arid have a change and rest.
Long, long ago when the disciples had been very busy in their service for the Lord, He said, “Come ye yourselves apart and rest awhile.” He knew what the human body could stand, and so He took them apart for a time of quiet rest. Undoubtedly there is something very instructive for us in all this, even in our day. The disciples did not make their own plans—the Lord did everything. Is there not often a tendency with us to just go ahead with our own plans without looking to the Lord? Or perhaps we make all our plans and then ask the Lord to bless them. We want Him to care for us, protect us, and be with us in our plans, but how different it was with the disciples here. The suggestion came from the Lord; He chose the time and place, and He took them there. It was His plan and they had His company.
We are living in an evil world, dear young folks, and the thought of the natural man is to be free from restraint. When vacation time comes his first thought is to have a good time and do just as he likes. He wants to throw aside restraint and indulge himself in the way most pleasing to his natural desires. He calls that a good vacation. The thought of being subject to the Word of God or trying to please the Lord is farthest from his thoughts, and especially when he is away from those who might impose any such restraint, “because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans 8: 7. The natural man loves “the pleasures of sin.” But the Lord says to us, “Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometime darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.” Eph. 5:7, 87Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (Ephesians 5:7‑8). We are never to copy the world. The very thought of being conformed to the world is contrary to our calling. We are the children of the light, while they are in the darkness; arid darkness and light have nothing in common. They cannot exist together, for when light enters the darkness is gone. How wonderful to be the children of light!
And yet how responsible we are, and one feels it most important that we should remember this, even as to how we spend our vacation. If we spend it in the chilling company of the world we will get chilled too, and perhaps, like jelly in the mold, we will be taking on the world’s ways and talk. We will be doing the things they do, dressing like them (in ways forbidden of God) and even defending them. Oh may the Lord keep us from this present evil world in any of its varying forms!
How different it is when we let the Lord do the choosing—when we wait for marching orders from above. He knows the need of rest and He provides a “place apart.” There we can enjoy His company and the company of others of “like precious faith.” Undoubtedly we will be able to meet with His own in His appointed way too, and then, when vacation time is over, we will return to our homes refreshed and strengthened both physically and spiritually.
ML 06/25/1950