GRACE FOR TODAY Radio Message #502

LET ME TELL YOU WHERE YOU CAN FIND REST

Pastor Don Fortner

Grace Baptist Church of Danville

2734 Old Stanford Road

Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438

A man can find rest and peace for his heart and soul when he walks in the old paths of the faith. This is what God says to his people through the prophet Jeremiah - “Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls" (Jer. 6:16). Listen to me, children of God, and I will show you the old paths of gospel truth. I know that if you will walk in these paths which are plainly laid before you in the Word of God, your heart and soul shall find rest and peace. I know it, because these things give me peace.

Here is an old, well-beaten path, upon which the saints of all ages have walked and found rest - "I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginnings and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure" (Isa. 46:9-10). NOTHING IS MORE COMFORTING TO MY HEART THAN THE FACT THAT THE GOD WHOM I TRUST IS TOTALLY SOVEREIGN. There is nothing in this universe which is not governed and controlled by my heavenly Father. All that is in heaven above in the earth beneath, and in all below is under the sovereign rule of the eternal God in whom I trust. What shall I therefore fear? If I did not know that my God is gloriously sovereign in all things, I would soon lose all sanity. I will walk in this old path of Divine sovereignty, because it gives me peace.

Throughout the ages God's people have found his electing love to be a path of comfort and peace to their hearts. It is written, "The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: but because the Lord loved you ... hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondman" (Duet. 7:7-8). GOD'S ETERNAL LOVE GIVES MY SOUL REST. From all eternity God's heart of love has been set upon his people Children of God, doesn't your heart rejoice in the peace of God's eternal love by which he chose you to be an object of his grace in eternity?

The old paths of the gospel are blood-stained paths. They are marked by the crimson of Immanuel's precious blood. It is written, "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin" (I John 2:7). Do you walk in the blood-stained way? This is the sweet comfort of my soul, I AM WASHED IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB. To be washed in the blood is to be cleansed, pardoned, justified, and accepted with God. God said, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you" (Ex. 12:13). The eye of Divine justice is on the blood of my Substitute, Jesus Christ.- and there it is satisfied. So God's justice passes over and refuses to punish me.

And certainly an old path of peace for the Lord's people is THE PROMISED SECURITY OF GOD'S ELECT. My heart rejoices to believe the Word of Christ himself, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH" (John 10:27-28). What on earth do those words mean? Well, they mean just exactly what men say they do not mean. They mean that no true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ shall ever perish!

Come, my brothers and sisters in Christ, walk in these old paths of gospel truth. God says that in doing so, "Ye shall find rest for your souls."

AMEN.