WHY YOU MUST PREPARE TO MEET YOUR GOD

Transcription

1 WHYYOUMUSTPREPARETOMEETYOURGOD 65 I have revealed myself to those who did not ask [for me]; I allowed myself to be foundbythosewhodidnotseekme.toanationthatdidnotcalluponmyname,isaid, HereIam!HereIam! 2 AlldaylongIhaveheldoutmyhandstoarebelliouspeople,[a people]whowalkinawaythatisnotgood,followingtheirownthoughts. 3 Apeople who provoke me to my face continually, offering [pagan] sacrifices in gardens and burning incense upon [altars] of bricks. 4 [A people] who sit among the graves and spendthenightincaves,whoeatthemeatofpigs,andthebrothofuncleanmeatisin their pots. 5 [They are a people]who say, Stay away, do not come near me, for I am holierthanyou!these[people]arelikesmokeinmynostrils,producedbyafirethat burnsalldaylong. 6 See,[theirconduct]hasbeenrecordedinmypresence;[therefore,] I will not remain silent, but will pay them what is just; indeed, I will [deliver their] recompense into their bosom 7 [both for] your own iniquities as well as for the iniquities of your fathers, declares Jehovah [into the bosom of those] who have burned incense on the mountains and scorned me on the hills. Therefore I will first measuretheirrecompenseintotheirbosom. 8 ThisiswhatJehovahsays,Aswhenjuiceis[still]foundinacluster[ofgrapes],and mensay,donotdestroyit,forthereis[stillsome]goodinit,sowillidoforthesakeof myservants,sothatiwillnotdestroythemall. 9 Iwillbringforthanoffspringfrom Jacob,andfromJudah[Iwillbringforth]onewhoshallinheritmymountains.Indeed, mychosenoneshallinherititandmyservantsshalldwellthere. 10 Sharonwillbecome apastureforflocksandthevalleyofachorarestingplaceforherds,[thiswillbe]for mypeoplewhoseekme. 11 ButasforyouwhoforsakeJehovah,youwhoforgetmyholymountain,youwho prepareatableforfortuneandfillbowlsofmixedwinefordestiny, 12 Iwilldestineyou fortheswordandyoushallallsuccumbtotheslaughter;because,whenicalled,you didnotanswer,andwhenispoke,youdidnotlisten.onthecontrary,youdidwhatwas evilinmysight,andchosethosethingsinwhichitakenodelight. 13 Therefore,thisis whatthelordjehovahsays,myservantswilleat,butyouwillbehungry.myservants willdrink,butyouwillbethirsty.myservantswillrejoice,butyouwillbeputtoshame. 14 Myservantswillsingwithajoyfulheart,butyouwillcryoutwithasorrowfulheart andwillwailwithabrokenspirit. 15 Youwillleaveyournametomychosenones[tobe used] for [the pronouncing of] a curse, and the Lord Jehovah will put you to death; then he will bestow upon his servants another name. 16 Consequently, whoever pronouncesablessinginthelandwilldosobythegodoftruth;andwhoevertakesan oath in the land will swear by the God of truth because the past troubles will be forgotten;indeed,theywillbehiddenfrommyeyes. 17 See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered,norwilltheycometomind. 18 Instead,begladandrejoiceforeverinwhat Iwillcreate;forIwillcreateJerusalem[tobe]a[placeof]rejoicingandherpeopleto experiencejoy. 19 IwillrejoiceoverJerusalemandtakedelightinmypeople.Nolonger shalltherebeheardin[jerusalem]thesoundofweepingandthesoundofcrying. 20 No longerwilltherebeinitaninfantwholivesfor[onlyafew]days,noranoldmanwho hasnotlivedoutthefullnumberofhisdays;forthemanwhodiesinhisyouthwillbe onehundredyearsold,andthemanwhofailstoreachtheageofonehundredwillbe

2 [considered] accursed. 21 They will build houses, and inhabit them; they will plant vineyards,andeatthefruitofthem. 22 Theywillnotbuild[houses]onlytohaveothers inhabitthem;theywillnotplant[vineyards]onlytohaveotherseat[thefruitofthem]; formypeoplewillliveaslongasatree,andmychosenoneswillenjoythefruitoftheir labors for a long time. 23 They will not labor in vain, nor bear [children destined to suffer] calamity; for [these children] are the offspring of those who are blessed by Jehovah,theyandtheirdescendantswiththem[shallexperiencehisblessing]. 24 Before theycall,iwillanswer;andwhiletheyare[still]speaking,iwillrespond. 25 Thewolf andthelambwillgrazetogether,andthelionwilleatstrawliketheox;butdustshall betheserpent sfood.theywillneitherhurtnordevour[oneanother]onallmyholy mountain,declaresjehovah.(isa.65:1 25) Introduction Whatwouldyoudoifyouknewthatyouhadonlyonedaylefttolive?Thatquestion was once posed to 625 German students. A number of them responded by saying thattheywouldspendtheirlast24hoursdrinking,takingdrugs,andchasinggirls. (Our Daily Bread 4/19/93)That is not a good way to spend your last day before beingusheredintothepresenceofyourgodandjudge. ThroughtheOldTestamentprophetAmos,theLORDgivestheexhortation, Prepare tomeetyourgod. ThissamemessagecanbeunderstoodtobethethemeofIsaiah 65.AswestudyIsaiah65,letusconsiderThreeReasonsWhyWeMustPrepareto MeetOurGod. I.WeMustPreparetoMeetOurGod, BecauseWewillhaveanInevitableEncounterwithHim(Isa.65:1 7) Verse1isdescribinganunexpected,butinevitable,encounterwithGod: Ihave revealedmyselftothosewhodidnotask[forme];iallowedmyselftobefoundby thosewhodidnotseekme.toanationthatdidnotcalluponmyname,isaid,herei am! Here I am! The Lord has granted an audience to a people who did not request an audience with Him. The LORD suddenly revealed Himself to a people whowerenotlookingforhim.thelordpresentedhimselftoapeoplewhowere notcallingforhim. God suddenly and inescapably reveals Himself to a thoroughly unresponsive people,asheindicatesinverses1b 2. AlldaylongIhaveheldoutmyhands[asa lovingfather]toarebelliouspeople. Hereareapeoplewho walkinawaythatis notgood,followingtheirownthoughts theywillnotlistentothewordofgod, theystubbornlywalkinthewaythatisappealingtothemandappearstothemto bewiseandprofitable.thehassuddenlyandunexpectantlyrevealedhimselfto apeoplewhoprovoke[him]to[his]facecontinually,offering[pagan]sacrificesin gardensandburningincenseupon[altars]ofbricks. 4 [Apeople]whositamongthe graves and spend the night in caves, who eat the meat of pigs, and the broth of uncleanmeatisintheirpots (vs.3 4.)TheLORDhascontinuouslydemonstrated

3 lovingkindness, patience, and a desire for these people; but they constantly provoke Him with their idolatry. The LORD goes on to say that He has now revealed Himself to a people that were characterized by an incredible selfrighteousness: [Theyareapeople]whosay, Stayaway,donotcomenearme,forI am holier than you! These people distanced themselves and stood aloof from othersbecausetheyconsideredthemselvestobemoreholythantheirneighbors. HowdoesGoddescribesuchpeople?Hedeclares, These[people]arelikesmoke inmynostrils,producedbyafirethatburnsalldaylong (vs.5b;)theyareagreat sourceofgriefandirritationtohimonacontinual,day by daybasis.according to verses 6 7, what will God do? First, we are informed, See, their conduct has beenrecordedinmypresence. Thatistosay,theirconductisinscribedinwriting before the LORD, it is not dismissed or forgotten, it has been recorded as a testimonyagainstthem.thenthelordinformsus, Iwillnotremainsilent. The LORD will not remain passive forever and let the sinful, insolent conduct of the peoplepassbywithoutcommentandwithoutjudgment.onthecontrary,he will pay them what is just; indeed, I will deliver their recompense into their bosom 7 bothforyourowniniquitiesaswellasfortheiniquitiesofyourfathers,declares Jehovah. The sins of one generation have been passed on to the next; whereas formerly the LORD abstained from bringing about a totally devastating act of judgmentuponthenation,givingthepeoplewarningandtimetorepent,hewill nowabstainnolonger. ThereforeIwillfirstmeasuretheirrecompenseintotheir bosom. Therefore, because there has been persistence in sin instead of repentance,now,asamatteroffirstpriority,thelordwillrepayjudgmentinto theverybosomofthesepeople. The Scriptures assure us that each one of us shall finally and inevitably stand before God when He reveals Himself to us face to face we each will have the kindofinevitableencounterwiththelordgodasdidtheoldtestamentpeople ofisraeldescribedinisaiah65 noterevelation1:7, Behold,hecomeswiththe clouds;andeveryeyeshallseehim. Onthatgreatdaywhenwestandbeforethe LORDourGodnothingshallbehidden,everythingshallbeexposedtothelightof Histruth,asthewritertotheHebrewsdeclares, Nothinginallcreationishidden from God s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whomwemustgiveaccount (Heb.4:13.)Onthatgreatdayeveryfalseconfidence will perish before the awesome reality of God s presence. The false confidence that God entertains an attitude of indifference and tolerance with regard to the issuesofmoralityshallperish,notepsalm50:16 21, to the wicked, God says 17 You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you. 18 When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers. 19 You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit. 20 You speak continually against your brother and slander your own mother sson. 21 ThesethingsyouhavedoneandIkeptsilent;youthoughtIwas altogether like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face. (Psl. 50:16 21)

4 The false confidence that the passage of millenniums refutes the teaching that thereshallbeafinaldayofjudgmentshallperish,note2peter3:3 4,8 10, First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, Where is this coming hepromised?eversinceourfathersdied,everythinggoesonasithas sincethebeginningofcreation. 8 Butdonotforgetthisonething,beloved: WiththeLordadayislikeathousandyears,andathousandyearsarelikea day 9 TheLordisnotnegligentinkeepinghispromise Heispatientwith you,notwantinganyonetoperish,buteveryonetocometorepentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar;theelementswillbedestroyedbyfire,andtheearthandeverythinginit willbelaidbare.(2pet.3:3 4,8 10) Let us prepare to meet our God, because we shall have an inevitable encounter with Him: it is appointed for men once to die, and after this [comes] judgment (Heb.9:27.) II.WeMustPreparetoMeetOurGod, BecauseHewillMakeaSeparationBetweentheDevoutand thehypocritical(isa.65:8 16) Usingtheillustrationofharvestinggrapesfromthevineyard,theLORDshowsus thedistinctionhemakesbetweenthosewhoarespirituallyaliveandfruitfuland those who are not (vs. 8.) When the harvesters come upon a juicy cluster of grapesinthemidstofclustersthathaverottedorareshriveled,theysparethat good cluster before chopping down the unproductive vine. Let us carefully consider such passages as the following that emphasize the LORD s demand for spiritualfruit: Jesustestifies, IamthetruevineandmyFatheristhegardener. 2 Heremoves every branch in me that does not bear fruit. But he prunes every branch that doesbearfruit,sothatitmaybearmorefruit. (Jn.15:1 2) the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, integrity, 23 humility,self control.(gal.5:22 23a) Verse10projectsusintothefuture,describingtherenewedlandandthosewho willinheritit: SharonwillbecomeapastureforflocksandtheValleyofAchora restingplaceforherds;[thiswillbe]formypeoplewhoseekme. Fromtheplainof SharononthewesttothevalleyofAchorontheeast,thelandtobeinherited shallbefilledwithpeaceandprosperity hereisapictureofthenewcreation employing Old Testament geographical locations. The inheritors are defined as my people who seek me; in contrast to the people described in verse 1, those whoaretrulygod speopleseekhimandservehim.

5 Asverses11 12declare,afardifferentfutureisinstoreforthosewho forsake thelord and forget[his]holymountain; thosewhoneglecttheworshipofthe LORDtheirGodandwhoabandonthefaith: ButasforyouwhoforsakeJehovah,youwhoforgetmyholymountain,youwho prepare a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny, 12 I will destineyoufortheswordandyoushallallsuccumbtotheslaughter;because, whenicalled,youdidnotanswer,andwhenispoke,youdidnotlisten.onthe contrary,youdidwhatwasevilinmysight,andchosethosethingsinwhichi takenodelight.(isa.65:11 12) Such people are described as preparing a banquet table for Fortune and Destiny they have given themselves over to pagan superstition and idolatry andtothepursuitofhedonism.thelorddeclarestothem, Iwilldestineyoufor thesword theswordofgod sjudgmentandpunishment,inthiscasebymeans ofaforeigninvader.thereasonforthejudgmentisstatedintheseterms:there wasnoresponsivenesstothe LORDwhenHecalled;onthecontrary,therewas thepursuitofwickednessandallthatisabominabletohim(vs.12b.) In verses the LORD Himself reveals the respective fate and rewards of thosewhomheidentifiesas myservants indistinctiontothosewhom,backin verse2,hehasidentifiedas arebelliouspeople. Hedeclares, myservantsshall eat theyshallbeprovidedforandbesatisfied, butyouwillbehungry those whohavelivedforthemselvesandinoppositiontothelordshallattheendbe deniedhisblessingandgivenovertohisjudgment.inverses13b 14Hegoeson toassert, Myservantswillrejoice,butyouwillbeputtoshame. 14 Myservantswill singwithajoyfulheart,butyouwillcryoutwithasorrowfulheartandwillwail with a broken spirit. The servants of the LORD shall experience the joy of the divine promises being fulfilled, the joy of discovering that their investment in Christreapseternaldividendsofblessing;butshameandsufferingshallbethe consequenceofbad,ungodlylifechoices,theconsequencesthatawaitthosewho havelivedforthemselvesinsteadoffortheirlordandgod.inconjunctionwith theseversesofisaiah65wemaynoteourlord steachingasrecordedinluke 6:20 26, Lookingathisdisciples,hesaid,Blessedareyouwhoarepoor,foryoursisthe kingdomofgod. 21 Blessedareyouwhohungernow,foryouwillbesatisfied. Blessedareyouwhoweepnow,foryouwilllaugh. 22 Blessedareyouwhenmen hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, becauseofthesonofman. 23 Rejoiceinthatdayandleapforjoy,becausegreat is your reward in heaven; for that is how their fathers treated the prophets. 24 But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. 25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laughnow,foryouwillmournandweep. 26 Woetoyouwhenallmenspeakwell ofyou,forthatishowtheirfatherstreatedthefalseprophets.(lk.6:20 26)

6 The contrast is between those who have invested their lives in Christ and the kingdomofgodandthosewhohaveinvestedinthemselvesandthisworld. Let us prepare to meet our God, because He will make a distinction and separationbetweenthedevoutandthehypocritical: Then those who feared Jehovah talked with each other, and Jehovah listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared Jehovah and honored his name. 17 They will be mine, declaresjehovahofhosts, inthedaywhenimakeupmytreasuredpossession. Iwillsparethem,justasincompassionamanspareshissonwhoserveshim. 18 Andyouwillagainseethedistinctionbetweentherighteousandthewicked, betweenthosewhoservegodandthosewhodonot. (Mal.3:16 18) III.WeMustPreparetoMeetOurGod, BecauseOnlyHisServantswillInherittheNewCreation(Isa.65:9,17 25) Inverse17theLORDdeclares, See,Iwillcreatenewheavensandanewearth.The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. What is comingisnothinglessthananewcreation anewcreationthatshallcompletely replacethepresentcreation,replacingeventhememoryofthiscreation.itwill provetobeacreationfilledwithgloriessogreatthatwewillneverbetempted to even consider comparing them to the blessings experienced in this present world. Inverses18 25thelifeandblessingofthenewcreationaredescribedinterms of this present creation that are familiar and meaningful to us especially meaningful to the Old Testament people of God. As we are projected into the futureandmadetostandatthethresholdofthenewcreation,thelordextends tohispeopletheinvitationandissuesthecommand: begladandrejoiceforever inwhatiwillcreate. TheLORDpromisesthatHeHimselfisgoingtorejoicewith usandwearegoingtobeasourceofjoytohim,andhepledgesthatallsorrow willbeleftbehindforever(vs.19.) The assurance that there will be no infant mortality nor premature death he whofailstoreachonehundredyearsofagewillbeconsideredtobeaccursed is conveying the promise of eternal life (vs. 20.) By means of the imagery of building houses and living in them, planting vineyards and enjoying their fruit, thereisconveyedtheblessingofenjoyingthefruitofourlaborfreefromfutility and oppression (vs ) Verse 24 is communicating the blessing of close, instantaneousfellowshipwithgod, Beforetheycall,Iwillanswer. Inverse25 thereisconveyedtheblessingofperfectpeacethroughoutgod snewcreation: thewolfandthelambshallfeedtogether. LetuspreparetomeetourGod,becausethosewhoserveHimshallinheritHis newcreation.

7 Conclusion Soverymanypeoplearelivingtheirlivestotallyabsorbedwithgainingrichesand successinthispresentworldwithoutanypreparationfortheirencounterwithgod. Many other people live their lives like those young German students, absorbed in the pursuit and experience of the pleasures of this present world without any preparation for their encounter with God. But the message of Isaiah 65 is this: Be preparedtomeetyourgod. Howdoyouprepareyourselfforthatawesomeencounter?ReceivetheLordJesus Christ as your Savior and take refuge in Him if you have never done so. Return to Christ if you have strayed away from Him. Remain in Christ and, by His grace, continuetobefaithfultohim.