GOD'S RENEWAL PLAN INCLUDES YOU

A series from the book of Isaiah: Chapter 54

I find this chapter very deep on God’s immeasurable love for His stubborn and forgetful children. Coming out of exile the people of God is not seeing the old glory of Jerusalem their city. It was a prophecy of a new plan for them. A glory that will not rest on the physical things and grandeur of the kingdom they once had but rather a glory that is surpassing physical greatness of the kingdom of God. With this kingdom all people will be included. God is talking about including all people in the whole world. With God no one is an outsider. You are never an outsider. God’s kingdom is for all.

Wow! This is a much grander plan. Their glory will be about the kingdom of God coming to them, living with them, and staying in their hearts. This kingdom is with them. Right at that time, it was just so hard for them to understand but centuries later in Christ, that prophecy of God’s kingdom coming to live with God’s people was fulfilled. And even Jesus went away, His presence is still secured with the Holy Spirit’s promise to be with us.

God’s plans always work for the good and the best of those who love Him. If His children will just see and understand His plans it much grander than all the plans they have for themselves. In chapter 54, God is trying to secure His people of their life after exile. Going back to Jerusalem without the temple and the glory of their heritage it was never a joke as a nation.

The intimate promise was to restore them and take them back into God’s family. God allowed that exile experience for a while for their good and now God is taking them back fully and without reservation. And God promised…

53:4 “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.

Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.

You will forget the shame of your youth

and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

5 For your Maker is your husband—

the Lord Almighty is his name—

the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;

he is called the God of all the earth.

6 The Lord will call you back

as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit—

a wife who married young,

only to be rejected,” says your God.

7 “For a brief moment I abandoned you,

but with deep compassion I will bring you back.

8 In a surge of anger

I hid my face from you for a moment,

but with everlasting kindness

I will have compassion on you,”

says the Lord your Redeemer.

13 All your children will be taught by the Lord,

and great will be their peace.

14 In righteousness you will be established:

Tyranny will be far from you;

you will have nothing to fear.

Terror will be far removed;

it will not come near you.

Sin will always divorce us from God, but God will never stop to summon us back into His loving presence. He is doing the work personally and intimately. In sending Christ it was just sending Himself for us. In Christ, we see the complete image of God.

When God said no terror, no horror and all those negative things will ever disturb you, it doesn’t mean that these things will never come…What God was saying was they will come and would try to destroy you but God’s people will never be moved because He will be their strength. It is not the absence of adversities that God says no terror will come to disturb, but it the promise of God that in the middle of the adversity God will surely be your present help in the need, and terror will never disturb us. It is not because you are not visited by adversities but it is because you have with us the strongest power fighting for us and we are made perfect and strong because of what He already did, is doing, and is going to do for you.

Friends, God’s renewal plan while still on this earth is not on changing our circumstances. It is not about giving us comfort instead of hardships. But rather it is always giving us enough spirit and enough strength to fight our hardships.

Friends, this is the same renewal plan that is offered for us today. It is also for you. When you choose God your ways will be established by Him. We will have the eyes that sees beyond difficulties. Ears that will hear the serenity amidst chaos. Hands that will work good works amidst suffering. Feet that walks beyond the comfort of our selves.