A bird sanctuary is a place where birds can find safety, a place where they can go to rest.
Churches are sometimes called sanctuaries because they too can be a place of peace and rest. But all churches are not sanctuaries. Sometimes they are places of division and strife. This ought not to be.
Although churches cannot always be depended upon to be a sanctuary in times of trouble, there is a true sanctuary where I can find safety, peace, and rest. It is a place where I can go when the world around me falls apart and my friends don't understand me. It is the sanctuary of His presence.
I can enter this sanctuary by learning about Jesus' love for me. When I come to the place where I can honestly see myself as the sinner I really am, then I cry out for the mercy He showed to me by His death on Calvary. I cry out for grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He hears my feeble human cry and He answers me. I enter His sanctuary and find not only peace and rest, but I also find it a place of joy. The Bible puts it this way, "In thy presence is fullness of joy" (Psalm 16:11).
Many battles must be fought before we can arrive at this sanctuary. You see, the enemy of our souls does not want us to find this sanctuary because he knows that when we arrive there his power over us is broken. We must learn to follow Jesus, to do as He has taught us, then He will gently lead us to His sanctuary of rest. Coming to Jesus with all our heart is not easy but, when we do, we discover the joy of the early Christians, a joy attainable even in the midst of persecution (I Peter 4:14).
Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt.11:28-29).
Jesus invites you to His Father's house, to His sanctuary of rest. Will you come? He is waiting for you.
© 1999, Doreen Palmer