SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 57
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death. [Isaiah 57:1-2]
These opening words caught my attention: they find rest as they lie in death.
Death as a means of peace, being taken away to be spared from evil?
Death is judgment for disobedience, the result of human rebellion, the wages of sin.
And yet those who hope in the Lord, and die ion Him, death is an entering into rest, resting in peace.
After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. [John 11:11-13]
To think of death as falling asleep, to wake up on the other side face to face with the Lord.
In a time when life seems good, its hard to imagine this; but think about the slaves, how in the cruelty and misery of their lives (at the hands of so-called christians !!!), they longed for the sweet chariot to swing low and carry them home.
This is the context for Isaiah’s words: God’s promise of help and restoration to the weak and oppressed, and His promise of judgment against His so-called people.
We live in a season of relative peace, and yet we are also slipping further and further away from God.
Even though our lives are empty, we refuse to say ‘It is hopeless’ [Isaiah 57:10]
We are slowly seeing our world unravel, and the ‘peace, peace’ that we have enjoyed is coming undone.
The time is coming, I suspect, when God will allow us to experience what life is really like without Him.
The time is coming, I fear, when we will start singing those spirituals again.
In this messed up world, we are not without hope; we believe that God is still in control.
We believe that all things work together for good for those that love Him.
We believe that no matter what happens here, we are secure in His love – nothing can separate us from His love!
As a result, we enjoy the seasons of peace with hope, and we endure the seasons of hardship with hope.
For whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord!
I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? [John 11:23-26]
PRAYER:
Lord, I find it hard to think of death as ‘resting in peace’. I do not want to die, but neither do I want to live without You. Help me to live in Your peace, that I may one day rest in Your peace.
It seems that the righteous have been overcome, yet God is at work. He spares them from the evil and gives them peace. Peace in death so that they may be spared from all the wickedness.
The wicked seem so strong and yet, a mere breathe will blow them away! At all times, God tells His faithful, take refuge in Him and you will inherit the Kingdom. Our bazaar had the theme Rejoice and Rebuild. Here the passage tells us to build up. Remove all what is unholy for our God reigns.
Once again, Haiti is being broken. There is corruption everywhere, even among the leaders of the land. Their idols can not save them. It is not until we recognize God that the rebuilding can happen. There is no peace in the land. Turn our hearts toward God and He will guide them. He will comfort. He will heal them. Turn from the evil ways and Serve God. If not, there will not be peace.
Lord may there be peace. A renewal o serve You! Redeem the land and may it be dedicated to You.
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!
Refrain
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!
Refrain
His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!
Refrain