Future — the big picture

READ Isaiah 61–64

These last chapters of Isaiah give both good news and bad. Jesus quoted the first few lines saying He came to bring “good news to the poor . . . bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, and open the prison for those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,” stopping there. Yet Isaiah goes on to tell of God’s day of vengeance and what He will do that ancient ruins will be repaired and “He may be glorified.” He also will “cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.” (Isaiah 61:1–11)

His promise comes as good news: nations and kings will see His righteousness and glory in His people who will be “a crown of beauty” in His hand because salvation will come and they will be called “The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord . . . Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.” (Isaiah 62:11–12)

Isaiah also gives a gory description of judgment because of the rebellion of His people despite all God has done for them. Eventually they cry out:

O Lord, why do you make us wander from your ways and harden our heart, so that we fear you not? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage. Your holy people held possession for a little while; our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary. We have become like those over whom you have never ruled, like those who are not called by your name. (Isaiah 63:17–19)

They will acknowledge the need for His presence (Are we not doing the same as we hope for Jesus to return?) and say, “From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him” as they confess their sinfulness: “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities. But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Be not so terribly angry, O Lord, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all your people.” (Isaiah 64:6–9)

This is a cry for revival. Is this not what we need today? The genuine people of God serve Him, but many call themselves by His name yet put their own comfort above His call to love and serve others. We all need to put away selfishness and return to our ‘first love.’

God says to His OT people and to us: “I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am,’ to a nation that was not called by my name. I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices.” We need the Spirit of God to turn complacency into hearts on fire for God, for righteousness, for humble and willing obedience. I need Him for everything.

God says that while His servants are cared for and rejoice in Him, those who forsake Him will “be put to shame . . . cry out for pain of heart and shall wail for breaking of spirit . . . . and the Lord God will put you to death.” And the good news is: He will “create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.” (Isaiah 65:17) Then He will answer us before we call, the “wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain.” says the Lord.

He also says, “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool” and will care for those who are “humble and contrite in spirit and tremble at my word” not those who choose their own ways and delight in their abominations and idols, doing what is evil in His eyes.

He promises that His people will rejoice and flourish, knowing Him and seeing His indignation against his enemies. He also points to the second appearance of Christ: “For behold, the Lord will come in fire, and his chariots like the whirlwind, to render his anger in fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire . . . . For I know their works and their thoughts, and the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall see my glory.” At that time, “all flesh shall come to worship before me, declares the Lord.”

All this tells me I must humbly obey Him — rejoicing that eventually He will make all things right. Amen.

 

Future Hope helps with present challenges . . .

 

 

READ Isaiah 57–60

A neighbor tells me how much world events trouble her. Me too. Today’s reading in Isaiah puts praise in my heart — God reveals His plans for the future, reassuring me about the atrocities in our daily news.

Currently, the persecution of Christians is rampant, but God reminds me: “The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness.” (Isaiah 57:1–2) He knows, and I must remember, that eternal life is far better than this life!

Then Isaiah speaks to those who mock God’s people. He calls them “children of transgression, the offspring of deceit” and tells them what God says:

Whom did you dread and fear, so that you lied, and did not remember me, did not lay it to heart? Have I not held my peace, even for a long time, and you do not fear me? I will declare your righteousness and your deeds, but they will not profit you. When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! The wind will carry them all off, a breath will take them away. But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land and shall inherit my holy mountain. (Isaiah 57:11–13)

Lest that judgment put any self-righteous pride in my heart, the Lord also says: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Isaiah 57:15) While He offers “Peace, peace, to the far and to the near” and promises healing for His people, He also says, “The wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. There is no peace for the wicked.” (Isaiah 57:19–21) That should humble me — apart from God’s grace, I would have no peace either.

The prophet also has words for those who profess faith yet are hypocrites. They fast but God sees they do it to “seek their own pleasure, oppress their workers, and do their own thing on the Sabbath” instead of taking delight in the Lord. As the NT explains, the Sabbath is not just a literal day of rest, but an illustration of ceasing from my own efforts to please God and relying on the complete and finished work of Christ. Because of Jesus . . .

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. (Isaiah 59:1–2)

This solemn warning is not just for the unsaved. Christians who mock God with outward ‘obedience’ and an inner “I will do it my way” attitude will pray in vain. God does not listen to anyone who pretends to trust Him when they actually are trusting themselves. I cannot point fingers because this sin is easy to fall into. For that and for many other reasons, I’m so thankful to read His promises:

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. (Isaiah 60:1–5)

And get this: “For the coastlands shall hope for me, the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from afar, their silver and gold with them, for the name of the Lord your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has made you beautiful . . . . Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, with no one passing through, I will make you majestic forever, a joy from age to age . . . . The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory . . . . your days of mourning shall be ended. Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever . . . the work of my hands, that I might be glorified. The least one shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the Lord; in its time I will hasten it.” (Isaiah 60:9; 15; 19–22)

The future is glorious and these promises help me remain faithful during the difficulties of right now!