Good news is coming . . .

 

READ Isaiah 1–5

The spiritual gift of prophecy mentioned in Romans 12 describes Christians who discern the will of God and the spiritual condition of His people. Their biggest concern is that God’s people walk with Him in righteousness and obedience. People with this gift are valuable but sometimes not very popular.

The characteristics of a prophet show up in Isaiah. God gave him visions so this man could declare God’s will to the people. Most of what he says in these first few chapters is doom and gloom. The people are doing the rituals but their hearts are not right before God.

After reading Revelation and Ecclesiastes, I don’t want to read more doom and gloom. However, finding good news is easy in this prophetic book. Isaiah is given views of the positive events that will happen in “the latter days” which is the time in which we are now living. These verses satisfy my desire for righteousness. Some are bad news for evil people, but I’m okay with that!

It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. (Isaiah 2:2–4)

All nations worshiping God and learning to walk in His ways! Changed lives! No more war! That is good news.

And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. And the idols shall utterly pass away. And people shall enter the caves of the rocks and the holes of the ground, from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth . . . . In that day mankind will cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats, to enter the caverns of the rocks and the clefts of the cliffs, from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth. Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he? (Isaiah 2: 17–19; 20–22)

Respect for God! No more idols! Fear of God replacing fear of man! That is also good news.

Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds. Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him. (Isaiah 3:10–11)

Finally, justice for those who do right! Finally, getting what they deserve for those who are evil! More good news.

Man is humbled, and each one is brought low, and the eyes of the haughty are brought low. But the Lord of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness . . . . Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!  . . . . Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! (Isaiah 5: 15–16; 20–21)

Each person aware of being a sinner before our holy God! God reveals His righteousness! Those who call evil good and good evil face the consequences of their error! Pride is reversed! This may not be good news for many, but for me, I am saying “Hallelujah” because seeing righteousness prevail, truth defeat lies, goodness overtake evil, and God being glorified is the desire of my heart — and I see that in Isaiah’s heart too as he proclaims the Word of God to the people in His time and to me. God is victorious and that is good news!