June 3, 2025

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“No longer will a nursing infant live but a few days, or an old man fail to l live out his years. For the youth will die at a hundred years, and he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.” (Isaiah 65.20)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD TO US:

In yesterday’s reflection, I considered the similarity between the Revelation given to Isaiah and that which was given to John the Elder of Patmos and Ephesus. The promise of a new heaven and a new earth sounds wonderful to all of us. How many of us crave a “do over” where we can begin again and avoid the mistakes of our past and find the road that provides the better opportunities and greater blessings? However, in this world there is no perfect world. Regardless of all our efforts, we will not be able to change the consequences of the world’s sin-fection. Such transformational opportunity only exists at the hand and will of God. It can happen in no other way. In spite of our technological advances and “superior” minds, we are all born with that penchant for sinning. Is it the belief of some that with AI technology we “living” being can be made which will not suffer from such a spiritual malady? Is that their goal? It wouldn’t keep them from such a reality which still results in death. Nor would it elevate them to some position of prominence believing that they could do such a thing. What of the soul? The implications are mind boggling! And defeating because it cannot be done. It does not exist within the will and design of Almighty God. Thus in the comparison and contrast of these “Revelations,” we see a huge difference. It is that difference which points us to the greater opportunity which is afforded only in Jesus Christ who is the only “way, truth and life.”

What is that difference? In Isaiah, as we read in chapter 65, there are still limits. The promise of peace, prosperity and absence of pain and suffering, alienation and exile is but for a time. It is not for eternity. It does not mean there will be no death. It does not mean we would not experience the sorrow which comes from those whom we love passing away in their fullness of time. It does create a sense of peace when that “fullness of time” is complete. We long for the epitaph declaring “He or She lived a good long life.” In what was promised to the faithful in Isaiah is exactly that. The image of such a world where babies are born and do not suffer infant mortality, cancer and other diseases do not run rampant and destroy bodies and dying before one is a hundred years old is not only unheard of but a sign of a far different problem. Are we able to grasp an age where everyone will be centenarians? Some believe that with medical prowess the human race could achieve it. Even if they did, and it was true for everyone, would the rest of the vision of the world follow? Likely not. This is not the promise of the Revelation given to John. There is a mention of Christ’ thousand year reign where peace was the way of life experienced by those who dwelt on earth prior to the releasing of “the Beast.” Even that season had a limit of “one thousand years.” Whether it is literal or figurative does not matter and is not worthy of discussion. Wny? Because we know from the Revelation itself that there is still more to come and it opens up to the fulfilled promise in Christ Jesus of the ultimate “new Heaven, new Earth and new Jerusalem.” It is possible for that eternal life to come to fruition by the promise of resurrection for which Jesus is the evidence and surety. As believers, we are called to live in our time with peace and a trust in God for our “fullness of time.” As believers, we are promised that the call is given for us to in out our spiritual “fullness of time” with the Godhead: Father, Son and Holy Spirit with them in the “new creation” exempt from sin-fection and blessed with righteous perfection.

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness which we know is folly but righteous works which declare Your glory and further witness the truth that can set all who believe free in Jesus’ name. AMEN.