Restoration is God’s ultimate intent, but a warning about destruction is the final word of this book that is modeled after the entire Bible. Restoration or destruction – those are the only two options for the ending of each person’s story. Destruction is doubtless more horrific than we can imagine; restoration is most certainly more wonderful than we can imagine. Which do you expect to face? I pray that the Holy Spirit will not let any of us be deceived as we contemplate the answer to that question today. I trust that if any one of you cannot rest in true confidence of knowing that you face intimacy with God at the end of time, you will urgently take that concern to God.
Yet in a sense none of us can be certain until we come face to face with Jesus and hear, “Well done, good and faithful Servant; welcome.” In the meantime we need to be on our guards as the Bible teaches us, so that we don’t change course. I envision myself clinging to Jesus with a four-point grip, relaxing one point only enough to creep forward, or give another needy soul a hand. That is why we need to be in God’s Word regularly and systematically, to avail ourselves of every advantage over the influence of the ruler of darkness and of the darkness itself, and to build up ourselves in the truth.
The destruction spoken of in these chapters reminds us that we are in a battle. Remember, that is what the Bible is about. Isaiah is a reminder that GOD WINS! Recall the historical context of Isaiah: it was written at a time when Israel was removed from their land and destroyed as a people by the harsh Assyrians. Judah wasn’t in great shape. Times were not good, and would get worse. What a blessed perspective Isaiah offered his initial readers.
And what a blessed perspective for us, too. He intends for what awaits us to be a delight to us, and for us to “be glad and rejoice forever.” There is doubtless something in the description that follows to whet your appetite for that time now. I pray that it offers whatever you need in the way of encouragement, occasion for praise, or driving you to God in need.