Negativity
is the new norm as day-by-day, hour-by-hour, minute-by-minute we rush to eat a
diet of the latest update about a disease that is ravaging the land.
Twenty-four
hours a day the media spews out the vomit we call “news” as our lungs breath in
the toxicity until it causes us to faint or pass out.
Conspiracy
theorists are having a field day as sides are chosen as to what is really going
on as both sides point their fingers at the other side.
Like the
smell of a skunk that has just sprayed we gasp for a breath of fresh air.
Clocks
are only used to find your favorite show. Calendars show only days (instead of weeks or months) as this Groundhog Day endlessly repeats.
“I just
don’t know what to do…” is the heart cry of many.
And yet,
through the confusion the Word of God SHOUTS to His people through the prophet
Isaiah chapter 60:
Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. (v1)
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. (v1)
Why is He telling us to arise and shine?
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people (v2)
And deep darkness the people (v2)
That sounds like the time we are living in. some days it seems as though the whole earth is wrapped in darkness.
Yes,
darkness; thick darkness, gross darkness…all the people of the earth are sunk in
deep darkness.
And you say; “Now I am
even more despaired!”
My friend: KEEP READING
BUT (say that again)
BUT the Lord will
arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you. (v2b)
And His glory will be seen upon you. (v2b)
In the middle of times
that seem out of control the Lord SHOUTS:
Get out of bed, Wake up.
Put your face in the sunlight.
God’s bright glory has risen for you.
God’s bright glory has risen for you.
The LORD is exhorting Believers
during this time of despair and uncertainty to be a light for Him. To be a
reflection of His goodness, His glory to those who are trapped by the darkness.
In fact, He is telling
us through the prophet Isaiah that when we arise and shine, people will come to
listen to what we have to tell:
The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising. (v3)
And kings to the brightness of your rising. (v3)
Even those relatives who
seem far away will come to you:
Lift up your eyes all around, and see:
They all gather together, they come to you;
Your sons shall come from afar,
And your daughters shall be nursed at your side. (v4)
They all gather together, they come to you;
Your sons shall come from afar,
And your daughters shall be nursed at your side. (v4)
The result will be
Then you shall see and become radiant,
And your heart shall swell with joy;
Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.
And your heart shall swell with joy;
Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.
The multitude of camels shall cover your land,
The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;
All those from Sheba shall come;
They shall bring gold and incense,
And they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord. (v 4-6)
The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;
All those from Sheba shall come;
They shall bring gold and incense,
And they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord. (v 4-6)
In other
words, when we arise and shine, the darkness is dispelled.
WE are
called to bring the light into this world out of control.
Some of
you might be thinking, “Jesus is the Light of the world, not me!”
And I would say that you are correct. In John
9:5, Jesus refers to Himself as the Light of the world.
But in Matthew 5:14 and 16, Jesus also said,
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill
cannot be hidden... In the same way, let your light shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
My
friend, don’t wait for this to all blow over before you share what the LORD has
done for you.
We are called to be ready to
speak up and tell anyone who asks why we’re living the way we are…
to always being ready to
make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for
the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence (1 Peter
3:15)
So, wake
up sleepy head! Arise! Shine! So that others will exclaim:
“HERE
COMES THE SON!”
All Scripture taken from the New King James
Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights
reserved.