Isaiah 62:1 "For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth."
It is my understanding that the term, Zion, in the Old Testament is a
foreshadowing of the Church in the New Testament. With that thought, what is
our estimation or value, of the Church? How important is the Church to us
today? I can tell you how important it was, and is, to Jesus. In speaking of
the Church, Paul told the Elders at Ephesus "... to feed the church of
God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." (Acts 20:28) Jesus
shed His righteous blood for His Church! So again, I ask myself this question:
"How important is the Church to me?"
Let's be reminded of how important these things were to Isaiah. "For
Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest,
until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation
thereof as a lamp that burneth." In reading these words, I can be certain
that I have a certain responsibility in maintaining the openly seen integrity
of the Church. Isaiah said, "I will not be quiet and I will not rest until
the righteousness" of the Church is understood by everyone. I will not be
quiet! There is a sweet deliverance that comes from gathering together with
God's people. There is a balance that can only be found in the Church of the
Lord Jesus Christ. We do our families and ourselves a great injustice if we do not
give every effort to be in God's House each Sunday. It is there that the
"oil for our spiritual lamps" is filled. It is there that the
Spiritual energy that we receive energizes us that we are able to "Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)
How important is the Church to us today? May God help us to hold it high in
value in our hearts and minds!