October 10, 2006 - Isaiah 34-36 and Colossians 2
It is wonderful and exciting to be able to consider the fullness of God and His future blessings to us. However, at the same time we must live in this world, and we must live out our theology and our faith in God each day. It is not enough to know and to believe the right things in our heads. We must practice God's Word every day. I believe these two passages will speak to each of us about this great truth.
Isaiah 34 and 35 contain prophecies about how God will judge the nations and Edom in particular. Then, Isaiah foretells a fantastic time in the future, when the desert will bloom as a rose. (35:1,2) He tells us that in that Millennial kingdom the redeemed will return to walk on the Highway of Holiness that leads to Jerusalem. (35:8-10) Isn't it glorious to think about what God is going to do? I am excited to think that we as saints will be a part of that time in history. However, then we come to Isaiah 36. It tells the story of Hezekiah's reign when the king of Assyria sent his army against Jerusalem. The king and the people had to trust God in a very dangerous situation that was very real. They were brought back to the present very quickly. I believe the Lord wants us to see the need to trust Him each day at the same time as seeing what He will do in the future. The future is a comfort, but we must live in the present.
That is really what Colossians 2 is teaching us, too. Jesus has shown us the fullness of God, and He is our all in all. Now, we must allow God to translate that into our everyday lives. We must live in Christ as we have received Him. (v.6) We received Him by grace through faith, and we are to live by grace through faith. We are not to live by the worldly principles. (v.20) We have died to those things. We are alive in Christ. Christ has defeated Satan, and we must allow Christ to give us the victory each day. Again, it is not enough just to know the truth; we must live out the truth for all to see. Does your Christianity work for you every hour of the day, or do you live by the principles of the world? If it doesn't work, there is something wrong. Christianity is meant to be not only great theology, but a great life.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 37-38 and Colossians 3.
Isaiah 34 and 35 contain prophecies about how God will judge the nations and Edom in particular. Then, Isaiah foretells a fantastic time in the future, when the desert will bloom as a rose. (35:1,2) He tells us that in that Millennial kingdom the redeemed will return to walk on the Highway of Holiness that leads to Jerusalem. (35:8-10) Isn't it glorious to think about what God is going to do? I am excited to think that we as saints will be a part of that time in history. However, then we come to Isaiah 36. It tells the story of Hezekiah's reign when the king of Assyria sent his army against Jerusalem. The king and the people had to trust God in a very dangerous situation that was very real. They were brought back to the present very quickly. I believe the Lord wants us to see the need to trust Him each day at the same time as seeing what He will do in the future. The future is a comfort, but we must live in the present.
That is really what Colossians 2 is teaching us, too. Jesus has shown us the fullness of God, and He is our all in all. Now, we must allow God to translate that into our everyday lives. We must live in Christ as we have received Him. (v.6) We received Him by grace through faith, and we are to live by grace through faith. We are not to live by the worldly principles. (v.20) We have died to those things. We are alive in Christ. Christ has defeated Satan, and we must allow Christ to give us the victory each day. Again, it is not enough just to know the truth; we must live out the truth for all to see. Does your Christianity work for you every hour of the day, or do you live by the principles of the world? If it doesn't work, there is something wrong. Christianity is meant to be not only great theology, but a great life.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 37-38 and Colossians 3.