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Today is Thursday August 05, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Isaiah, chapters 22-26. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-august-5

Today's Message: Perfect Peace

Did you ever notice the waves of the ocean coming on to the beach? It is such a beautiful sight, and amazing when you think about just how wonderful a God we have to create such beauty. God's peace is illustrated by the waves as they go back and forth on to the shore, carrying them back into the ocean, never to be seen again. “He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.” - Psalm 55:18. Now, think about your salvation, when you got saved all the sin in your life was carried away like the waves, never to be seen again. Praise God! True peace only comes from the Author of peace, our Lord Jesus Christ. In the midst of all joys, trials, and difficulties we can live in peace through Jesus Christ. We have to face the fact that many of the prophecies of Isaiah have and are coming to pass as we speak. It is only a matter of time before we see the return of Jesus and all the destruction that will take place upon His arrival. However, “Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. 11Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” - II Thessalonians 1:6-12.

Isaiah's prophecy was first directed to Judah, then to Israel, then to the surrounding Gentile nations, and finally to all the world. Just as surely as many of the prophecies were fulfilled in ancient history, we can also expect that the Messiah Jesus will return as Christ the King. Isaiah 22 starts out with "The burden of the valley of vision"; it is not a warning, but an oracle written to and about Jerusalem. An "oracle" is an Divinely inspired writing of inspiration and revelation. Jerusalem is called the "valley of vision" because of the hills that it is built on, and around. It is a city of valleys, of Kedren, Megiddo, and so on. So what this chapter is talking about is the city of Jerusalem, and an inspiring revelation that will be given about her. “The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops? Thou that art full of stirs, a tumultuous city, joyous city: thy slain men are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle. All thy rulers are fled together, they are bound by the archers: all that are found in thee are bound together, which have fled from far. Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people. For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord GOD of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains.” - Isaiah 22:1-5. This means that these people will be taken in a spiritual death by believing that Satan, who will be playing many roles including the role of Messiah, and they believe him to be God. In history, when both the Assyrian army came against the house of Israel, and the Babylonian army came against the house of Judah, their leaders ran. They snuck through the wall at night and ran from the enemy. Those that gave the commands to fight had fled afar. After the battle when the fighting is over, these so-called leaders will see what they have done, and will weep bitterly for the shame that they have brought upon themselves. When the spoiling takes place after the war, after the battle is lost and the leaders are gone, the people will see what they have done to themselves, and they will not want anyone to look at them because of the shame that they feel about themselves. This is why the prophet says there will be great shame on all of them.

It is a bit scary to see the many prophecies of the “sign of the times” taking place, but we have nothing to worry about because we are God's elect, those whom have accepted the true Christ into their lives. We can rejoice in our Salvation knowing that none of us have to face that horrible day. “O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built. Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee. For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall... He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” - Isaiah 25:1-4,8,9.

We often forfeit peace by choosing to disobey His Word. Disobedience causes guilt and guilt robs us of His peace. However, no matter what one has done, he can find peace again, perfect peace. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.” Isaiah 26:3-5. If His perfect peace is to be experienced we must trust in Jesus and be born again. “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” - John 3:5-7. All who believe in and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior are born again and will find perfect peace.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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