Vacation

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

Are you ready for a vacation? The weather has turned warm and the school year is at its end. Camp grounds and golf courses are open. People are getting their boats and trail bikes ready for use. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Americans dream of exchanging work and home for fun and travel.

Why do we need a vacation? Why do we crave a change of scenery? I wonder if hungering for vacation shows unhappiness with the life we are living? If your whole summer hinges on your vacation plans, what does that say about the quality of your life? Are you happy with your job? Are you happy with your family, your home, your circle of friends? Are you happy with your daily routine? If you are not, be aware that going on vacation will not make the problem go away. A vacation can offer temporary relief from being unhappy, but when you return home your daily routine will still be waiting for you, unchanged.

There are some people who don’t get excited about vacations. They love their work; they love being right where they are. When you are happy with how you are living, there is no desire to take a break from it.

God designed each of us differently. Each of us has a unique set of interests, abilities and skills. But these qualities were not assigned randomly; God hand-crafted each of us the way He did for a reason. Ephesians chapter two says, We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. God placed each of us on earth to do something special, and He made sure that by our birth and upbringing each of us is uniquely suited to carry out the tasks He has lined up for us.

Most people don’t make much of an effort to find out what God wants them to be doing with their lives. There are so many exciting ways to make money and spend time that it is easy to live life without giving much thought to its' meaning. But vacation time can serve as a wake-up call; if you are desperate to get away and dread the day when vacation ends, it is time to ask yourself—am I really happy with my life? If the answer is no, maybe you aren't using your God-given abilities the way they were meant to be used. Maybe it is time to think about the kinds of work that you are good at and make you happy. Maybe it is time to make a serious commitment to prayer, asking the Lord to reveal His will for your life.

But even if you do like your job and love your home, it can still be great fun to go on vacation. Sometimes relatives or friends move far away; a trip can give you the opportunity to reconnect with distant loved ones. Sometimes you can get so ensnared with problems at work or at home that you just can't see a solution; going on vacation can allow your mind to relax and look at things from a fresh perspective. Sometimes you can get stuck in a rut; going someplace you’ve never been before can expose you to new ideas, show you different ways of going about things which can make your life richer.

But the best thing about vacations is the opportunity they provide to strengthen your relationship with both God and your family. On vacation, God doesn’t get pushed aside by the demands of work. On vacation, your family doesn’t have to share your time with yard work, meal preparation, or laundry. On vacation, both you and your family get a chance to see how large and diverse and wonderful God’s world really is.

Going on vacation—family time for sure, but a religious experience? You bet! When you start packing for a road trip, make sure to include a Bible, a couple of hymnals, or a some devotional literature. Then as you are driving down the highway, give your on-board technology a rest for a few miles. Turn down the radio or CD player and sing some favorite hymns instead. Switch off the DVD player and read out loud some Bible stories or devotions, and then discuss them. Take the boring miles and use them as an opportunity to find joy together in God’s word. Remember God’s command given in Deuteronomy chapter six: These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road.

Vacations can also give you a new perspective on church life. When you are traveling over a weekend, find a Christian congregation to worship with. I know it can be a little uncomfortable going into a strange church, but make the effort. Check out how that church illustrates the teachings of the Bible in stained glass windows, paintings, banners, and other forms of religious art. Join in the singing—you might find a new hymn that speaks beautifully about how God has blessed you through Christ. Listen to the sermon—you never know when a message from the pulpit will reach into your heart and grab hold. And visit with the people; it will remind you how many followers Jesus has in this wide and wonderful world—and by His blood shed on the cross, those people are your brothers and sisters.

When we plan vacations, we usually think about doing things that bring the family together. In recent years, however, some husbands and wives have started taking private vacations separately—each goes someplace by themselves, without spouse or children. Frankly, I think this is a terrible idea. Our daily schedules already work to isolate us from the other people in our homes—many families don’t even sit down together for a meal anymore. Work, chores, school activities—while each might be important and worthwhile, they are causing the members of our families to become strangers to each other.

Now I realize how difficult it can be to plan vacation activities that everyone in the family can enjoy together. Some want to go on rides, others don’t. Some want to attend shows, others don’t. Some want to work up a sweat, while others want to relax. Some enjoy noise, while others desire quietness.

How do you find an activity that everyone can agree on? Let me suggest a place to start—mealtime. Throughout the Bible, eating together has always a way of celebrating our love for each other. Wedding banquets could go on for days. Jesus frequently used dinner gatherings to teach His followers and show love to the needy. The sacrament of Holy Communion is a meal that unites us with Christ and with each other. Jesus even described heaven in terms of a huge, joyous banquet.

When you go on vacation, meals can and should be a center point in your planning. While away from home, everyone can eat together without distractions coming from work, school, sports, or even having to do the dishes. Meals together are about more than feeding your body; they are a time for nourishing your relationships. Good food, good drink, good conversation—these three things have always gone well together.

But when you sit down to eat, whether it be in a classy restaurant or on a blanket in the grass, make sure that you remember two things. First, thank the Lord your God for His generosity—after all, it is He who gave you the food to eat and the company to share it with. Second, invite Him to join you; after all, Jesus invites you to eat with Him in paradise, so why not invite Him to spend time with you and your family here and now?

Does God ever take a vacation? I can assure you that no He does not; God is on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks each year. Now wait a minute, you might say, doesn’t the Bible say that God rested on the seventh day, after creating mankind and the universe? Yes God did rest, but listen carefully to what the Bible says: God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done (Genesis 2:3). God rested from making new things, but He did not stop working completely—on the seventh day God was still actively maintaining everything He had created.

The proof of this comes in the Gospel of John chapter five. Jesus had just performed a miracle, healing a man who could not walk. But Jesus had done this work of healing on the seventh day of the week, and some people criticized Him for working on the day God had set aside for rest. Listen to how Jesus responds: My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working. Our loving God always takes care of the people and things which He has made; He is at work every day of the week.

We need vacations because sometimes problems overwhelm us and we can’t find a solution; we need to take a break in order to gain a new perspective. But God doesn’t need a vacation; there is no problem that can defy His wisdom or withstand His power. We need vacations because continuing stress can impair the quality of our work. But God doesn’t need a vacation; through the atoning death of His Son Jesus, God has solved the problem of sin and the stress that it brings. We need vacations so that we can have time to do the things we love. God does not need a vacation; every day He is doing the things He loves. He blesses couples with children. He listens to prayers. He forgives sins. He shields His people from the devil’s attempts to kill their faith. He guides His children in showing His love to others. He lifts believers from this veil of tears and gives them eternal happiness in His wonderful home.

Because of sin, the sin within us and the sin all around us, there are times when we need to take a break and get away from life as usual. But sin cannot touch God; He needs no vacation. Our Lord is always at His work, and that includes taking care of you. Our Lord never takes a vacation from you; don’t ever take a vacation from Him.