The Faithfulness of God.

“As surely as my new heavens and earth will remain, so will you always be my people, with a name that will never disappear,” says the Lord. ­– Isaiah 66:22 NLT

This is a difficult book, filled with messages of doom and images of destruction. It portrays the unfaithfulness of mankind in glaring detail and shows how even those who call themselves God’s chosen people can turn that relationship into nothing more than ritual and casual compliance. It is a book filled with warnings about disobedience and spiritual adultery. It gives us a picture of God that is sometimes disturbing, revealing His “dark” side that some of us don’t like to see. But God sent Isaiah with his message of coming judgment in order to call the people of God to repentance. It was a warning of what was to come if they refused to repent and return to Him. But woven throughout the book are reminders of what was to come to those who remained faithful. God was going to bless. He was going to keep His promises. He was going to keep His Word. God would remain faithful in spite of man’s unfaithfulness. Jerusalem would be restored to its former glory and prominence. A descendant of David would one day sit on his throne, ruling in righteousness. But that day has yet to come. It still lies unfulfilled. Jerusalem has no king. The people of Israel do not occupy the land to its full extent. God is not worshiped there. Where the Temple once stood is a Muslim mosque. The city of Jerusalem is more secular than sacred. The people of Israel put more faith in their military might and political muscle than in Yahweh. But one day, God is going to change all that. Why? Because He is faithful. Not because the people of Israel deserve it. He says, “I will give Jerusalem a river of peace and prosperity. The wealth of the nations will flow to her. Her children will be nursed at her breasts, carried in her arms, and held on her lap. I will comfort you there in Jerusalem as a mother comforts her child” (Isaiah 66:12-13 NLT). That event lies in the future. God is not done yet. He has more to do and we can rest in the fact that He will do it – because He is faithful.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” – Revelation 21:1-4 NLT

In spite of man’s sin, God is faithful. In spite of our rebellion, God is faithful. In spite of our unfaithfulness, God is faithful. He will finish what He began. He will do what He has promised. We can count on Him.

Father, You are faithful and true. You are reliable and trustworthy. Never let me forget that. Never let me doubt it. Don’t let me judge Your faithfulness based on my circumstances. I can’t see what You can see. I don’t know what the future holds. But I do know that You hold the future. You are in control. You are faithful. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org