Date: Saturday July 28, 2012
Today's Chapters: Isaiah 30-33
Message Title: When Jesus Returns

Hello My Friend,

While we all have to endure some suffering from time to time, God truly loves all people, after all He created every single one of us. It is truly uncomprehending to understand the love of God for His creation, yet out of the billions of people He created from the time He created man, millions will flee and reject Him. Still, no matter how many reject Him He is faithful and true to wait for every single one of His children to receive Him before the day Jesus returns on Judgment Day. “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” - 2 Peter 3:7-10.

God might have chosen Israel to be the people to represent Him as the Almighty and only living God, He is still the God of all nations and of all people. Through Isaiah, God reveals the reason so many Jews and Gentiles are struggling today. “Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.” - Isaiah 30:1-3,7.

The alliance that Egypt and Israel have stems all the way back to Abraham, they know that there is only one living God, yet still today they reject the Messiah for their false gods. Just as Jerusalem fell so will every nation that follows Egypt. Those nations that follow Egypt, who put trust in man and not in the living God will remain in confusion to the truth and will also be judged as Jerusalem was, but there is hope. Through Isaiah, God reveals that while His judgment stands He is patiently waiting for all His people to come to Him before he sends Jesus. “And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” - Isaiah 30:18-21.

There is no escaping the judgments of God, but God protects His children, even if they have gotten away from Him. The truth is, no amount of good saves us from judgment, it is only by our trusting Jesus Christ as our Savior that we are saved or rather made to endure suffering until Jesus comes to get us. “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” - Hebrews 10:36-39.

The wasting and desolation of the land upon the judgment of God was given because His people were living in the pleasures and corruption of the world, ignoring God's commands in pure rebellion. Through Isaiah, God reveals the day that Christ comes to reign in His Kingdom and the hope given to all those who received Him. “Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken. The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;” - Isaiah 32:1-4,17,18.

It is the comfort of the faithful few that blessed times of righteousness and eternal rest are promised when Christ, who is the Prince of peace, shall come to reign on His throne. Even those who have put God on the back burner will find this peace. Why? Our faith in Christ saves us. God knows that the flesh is wretched, it is because we have this sinful flesh that God chose a different way for us to be saved from His judgment and that is through Jesus Christ. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - Romans 10:10-13.

People ask me all the time, “How can God send people to hell?” God does not want to send anyone to hell, but the truth us only those who call upon the Lord shall be saved. You see, God will not force anyone to believe in and follow Him, we are all free to choose what we believe. That still does not change the fact that God, Christ, Satan, and hell exists just as much as we exist nor does it change the fact that Christ will return one day only for those who believe in Him. While He does not want to see anyone end up in hell, He will allow them to make that choice as well. “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;..The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:” - 2 Peter 2:4,9.

Today's Prayer: God, I know that Jesus will return and while I know I am saved only because I am trusting in my salvation through Your Son, I do not want to take advantage of that gift. I know that as long as I have Your Son with me I will be strong to handle all the trials of life, whether they are ones I caused myself or just something You allowed to bring me closer to You. Lord, lead me and guide me, help me to endure affliction, to always look to You, and seek the peace, comfort, and hope that only You can provide. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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