The deepest joy

Numbers 32; Psalm 77; Isaiah 24; 1 John 2

The author of a novel I finished this week showed insight into human nature. She wrote about the way some people in the theater had been working with fiction so long that they had problems with reality. This was both vanity and self-preservation because they were not able to cope with the actual events in their lives.

As in the story, this is true in real life too. We are prone to believe what makes us feel good about ourselves, even if it is a lie. Like Pollyanna, we focus on the best and the most pleasing and try to forget what is unpleasant or difficult.

These thoughts came to mind while reading the prophetic announcement of Isaiah 24. Isaiah usually speaks of events that were fulfilled by the time Christ came, but this chapter is about God’s judgment on the entire earth — it hasn’t happened yet. Some people think this pandemic is the beginning of it. Many thought the same thing with the world wars and plagues like the Spanish flu. However, the Corona virus is less devastating to life than the media makes it when compared to some of those past events and certainly when compared to what the Bible calls the Great Tribulation.

Isaiah’s description says this judgment will be no respecter of persons as the Lord will “empty the earth and make it desolate, and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants . . . . The earth shall be utterly empty and utterly plundered; for the Lord has spoken this word.”

He goes on with more detail, even to describe how some of His people will survive this and sing for joy as they give glory to the Lord. At the same time, those who reject Him will be in terror as the “windows of heaven are opened” and the “foundations of the earth tremble.”

The earth is utterly broken, the earth is split apart, the earth is violently shaken. The earth staggers like a drunken man; it sways like a hut; its transgression lies heavy upon it, and it falls, and will not rise again. On that day, the Lord will punish the host of heaven, in heaven, and the kings of the earth, on the earth. They will be gathered together as prisoners in a pit; they will be shut up in a prison, and after many days they will be punished. Then the moon will be confounded and the sun ashamed, for the Lord of hosts reigns on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and his glory will be before his elders. (Isaiah 24:19–23)

Right now, most of us are at home but living and waiting for everything to go back to normal but will it? In that time that Isaiah describes, all will change and for everyone.

After reading this prophetic chapter, God takes me to that which I need to give attention. It is how I should think and live no matter what is going on in the world.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1–2)

This is the good news. Because of His saving grace, I will be with those who will sing for joy when the Lord comes to judge the world. Because of His saving grace, no one needs to suffer like those Isaiah describes. God has provided a way.

John goes on to say:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15–17)

He echoes Isaiah; the world is passing away, but faith in God (which is His will for all of us) changes our destiny. John reminds me to abide in that marvelous truth and in Christ . . .

And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears, we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. (1 John 2:28)

APPLY: Again, the Lord says to keep trusting Him. He is holy and merciful to those who are willing to admit their need of grace and mercy. He is faithful to redeem and protect all who trust and abide in Him. Instead of fear during these days and for the future, this is cause for joy, deep joy.