I think most of the readers of our little paper will recognize these words as the beginning of the verse which says: “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).
I would like to tell you of something that took place in faraway India. It was getting near the time for the great heathen festival, and a Hindu priest had just inspected his robes. He realized that he must have one robe dyed a special color for the occasion. So he went to visit a nearby shop and purchased the necessary powder to dye his robe and took it home. When he opened the package he found strange words on the wrapping paper. “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Again and again the words ran through his mind. Was not that just what he had been looking for, for years? He was sure his heart was not at rest. Had he not tortured himself and made endless journeys in order to find rest? Who could be giving such an invitation as this?
One day he passed on the scrap of paper to another man named Krishna. This man was also very much interested in the strange words. He determined to find out where the words came from, and who had said them. He carried the piece of paper around with him and spoke about it to nearly everyone he met. Day after day he asked the shopkeepers, and the passers-by, if they had ever heard the words, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
One day Krishna came across a group of Christians preaching in the open air and he stopped to listen. He heard for the first time the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ. He heard the sweet story of His coming down to this world and laying down His life, in order that we might be cleansed from all our sins by His most precious blood.
At last, joy of all joys! He heard the precious words repeated, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
I am glad to be able to tell you that Krishna very soon accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour, and found that rest which he had so long sought.
For a long time now Krishna has gone here and there among his friends, witnessing to every one of the power of the Lord Jesus Christ to give rest to troubled hearts and consciences. Have you, my dear reader, found rest in trusting the Lord Jesus Christ? He came down here into this world in order that you and I might know the rest which He alone can give. Not only does He give to you and me rest for our troubled consciences by washing away all our sins, but the rest which He gives us is for eternity.
Will you not come to Him now and accept from Him that wonderful invitation? “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).
ML 11/25/1956