By Glenn Metts
Pastor, Shiloh Baptist Church, Seymour
Focal Passage: Isaiah 65:17-25
Every day we awaken, we are met with the love of God, the grace of God, the faithfulness of God, the promises of God and hope for tomorrow. That truth has sustained me many a day where the rug seemed to be pulled from underneath me.
Can you relate? Perhaps 2020 has been a year like that for you. People have dealt with financial or job loss, sickness, death, COVID-19, social unrest, and more.
But, as Christians we know there is hope. God is at work and the best is yet to be.
Isaiah writes to God’s people to encourage them that God is going to do a new thing. He is going to restore what has been lost and restore what sin has devastated.
David Jeremiah notes in his commentary on Isaiah 65:17-18, that “the promise that God will create new heavens and a new earth” echoes Genesis 1:1.
The first heaven and earth were ruined by sin and are in need of restoration and re-creation.
From the very beginning (Genesis 1-2), God created humans as physical beings to live on a physical earth. And one day God will create a new earth, removing all the effects of sin that plague this present earth (Revelation 21:1).
The Life Application commentary states, “In Isaiah 65:17-19 we have a pictorial description of the new heavens and the new earth. They are eternal, and in them safety, peace and plenty will be available to all.”
I couldn’t help but think of how these truths help and sustain me today. When we respond to Christ and are saved, Ephesians tells us of the hope we have from that day forward.
Listen to Ephesians 1:13-14, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.
Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the day of redemption of those who are God’s possession — to the praise of His glory.”
You see, child of God, when we are in Christ, the Holy Spirit is in us, and we are kept until the day of redemption. We are kept. Wow! Think about it! God has saved us and is restoring us. His work will be completed.
We are in His care. We are kept.
I tell my folks all the time, the best is yet to be. As Isaiah’s message was clear that the future of God’s people is bright, we can rest assured that our future is bright.
In the words of Corrie Ten Boom, “If you look at the world you will be distressed. If you look within you will be depressed. If you look to God you will be at rest.” That is so incredibly true. Our hope is in the Lord! He never fails. He is with us now and the best is yet to be!
