Isaiah 62:11-12 "Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. (12) And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken."
As I reread these verses, I feel the need to visit them one more time.
These verses speak of hope - true hope. The last writing spoke of the fact that
people are looking and longing for something that will make them feel complete.
It is a fact that because of sin, there is a need within each of us that speaks
of something missing in our lives. Again, as I read these verses again, I see
something that fills the emptiness that is so often within us. It is a
proclamation that actually began before the Lord God created the heaven and the
earth. It is a covenant agreement that was "signed, sealed, and
delivered" by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. It is a proclamation that is
declared in every verse of the Bible. It was first declared by God Himself when
He cast Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden. He declared the "seed of
the woman" (Jesus) would bruise the "head of the serpent"
(Satan). It is declared by every God-called preacher when he stands to
preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And the thing that I saw this morning tells
me that this blessed message of HOPE will be "proclaimed unto the end of
the world."
What is that message of hope? "Behold, thy salvation cometh."
In every situation, there is a beginning and an end. When it seems the
weight of the world is on our shoulders, "Behold, thy salvation
cometh." When it seems we are sinking under the weight of guilt and shame,
"Behold, thy salvation cometh." When it seems that darkness is all
around us, "Behold, thy salvation cometh." We are told with absolute
confidence, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the
morning." (Psalm 30:5) How can we know this is true? How can we be assured
that there is hope upon which we can anchor our soul? "Behold, the LORD
hath prolaimed unto the end of the world... Behold thy salvation cometh."
We just celebrated yesterday the assurance of hope of eternal life by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. He proclaimed, "Because I
live, ye shall live also." (John 14:19) HOPE! There is hope to
be found every single day that we live because God has assured it. But as we
see darkness overshadowing this world more and more, we can be assured that
HOPE is on the way: "salvation cometh."
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 "But I would not have you to be
ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even
as others which have no hope. (14) For if we believe that Jesus
died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with
him. (15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we
which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them
which are asleep. (16) For the Lord himself shall descend from
heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the tru(mp of
God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which
are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to
meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (18
) Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
Yes, this old world of sin and sorrow will come to an end. Blessed Assurance!
Jesus is mine!