Stop the World and LET ME OFF!

Stop the World and LET ME OFF!

Psalm 61:1-8 

1 Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer.
2 From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3 For You have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy.
4 I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;
I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah

   A popular country song a while back was “Stop the world, and let me off.”  The writer said he was tired of going round and round and wanted to stop and get off.  I don’t know if it’s my age or just that the world seems more complex and getting worse by the minute, but I often feel that way.  Stress from family, work, aging body, etc etc etc makes it seem as if I’m on a carnival ride that’s speeding up faster and faster.  And when you think things are crazy and you feel overwhelmed, the enemy comes against you again.

   One of the enemy’s best strategies against us is the constant barrage of temptations and oppositions that we face every day.  He keeps us off balance by sending evil and placing it before our eyes as often as possible.  For example, I was dusting one rainy afternoon recently at the Library where I work.  I was at the magazine rack and was struck by how many magazines had women in provocative poses on the cover.  Not only men’s magazines, but women’s magazines and young women’s magazines and even teen girl’s magazines.  There were famous models, actresses and even cooks in poses that can only be considered “adult.” 

   We are surrounded by temptations constantly and unless you retire to a monastery you can’t escape it.  As you suffer the assaults of a simple trip to the supermarket, where the woman walking the aisle is dropping “F” bombs and the cashier is showing too much cleavage and and and Arrrgh!  Stop the world, I WANT TO GET OFF. 

   Is there an escape?  Can we stop the world and get off for a break?  Yes, God has given us a safety valve.  Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer.  From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; 

He wants us to turn to Him when we need refuge.  He wants us to call on Him when we are being overwhelmed.  He provides stability and rest and strength for our weary souls.   

   The first step is one we overlook, and overlook for many reasons.  Its “old-fashioned,” its “Old Testament,” it’s inconvenient, it’s (fill in your own excuse.) 

Exodus 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”  You are given the instruction to relax one day a week, and it’s your own fault if you over-schedule yourself and don’t relax.  Try to give yourself a break.  Take a day off and relax.  It will refresh you in a way nothing else will.  And while you’re not working, it will be a good time to read your Bible and maybe listen to some inspirational worship music.  Focus on Christ and renew your mind.

   Secondly, stop chasing the dream of possessing things that are “better” than the neighbors.  Psalms 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!  When you get to the Judgment Seat and stand before Christ, He won’t ask you the size of your TV screen or the amount of RAM in your laptop.  He won’t ask you how much mileage your car got or where you took your vacations.  Only you care about these things, in the light of eternity they really don’t matter.  You can drive a fancy car and dress in fashion clothing and still be out of fellowship with God and doing nothing for the Kingdom.  He calls to you to come and just be in His Presence and relax in Him.

   Lastly, get away for a season and take a break.  Mark 6:31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.”  When you get too weary, you won’t be able to work as effectively.  Studies done over the years have always shown that workers who never take vacations are less productive that ones who do.  Even God expects you to take a vacation once in a while. 

   OK, so maybe you can’t really get the world to stop and let you off, but you can slow yourself down and turn away from the cesspit the world is becoming.  You can step out of the muck and focus on Jesus and let His grace wash your soul clean again.

Stephen Cram                                September 2, 2012                     Colossians 2:8

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  Colossians 2:8