In God's Word by Mike Mills

November 7, 2018 - Today we see a world in turmoil, a world of strife and persecution, but it will not always be this way for a day will come when all things will change, when trouble and strife will be no more and when all living things shall live in harmony.

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” (Isaiah 11:1-2)

The man, Jesse, who is referred to here is the father of David, the king of the Jews. The shoot of the stump of Jesse is none other than Jesus Christ who is often called, Son of David.

“And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him” is fulfilled immediately after he rises from the waters of the Jordan River when he is baptized by John the Baptist.

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:16-17) 

And the Lord Jesus shall one day return to the earth to rule the earth and shall have power over all things of the earth.

And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.” (Isaiah 11:3-5)

And a time of complete peace will come over the new heavens and the new earth and all shall be as the Lord intended, for all shall be in harmony.

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.” (Isaiah 11:6)

As Jesus tells us, we must come to him as little children trusting and believing in him completely if we are to inherit the kingdom of God.

The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:7-9)

This is the time and the place of heaven that we all long to experience, a time of blessed peace and joy like none other.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:20-21)

And so I ask you today, where are you building up your treasures? Are you striving to build them on the earth where they will eventually be burned up, or, are you building them in heaven where they will rest securely until it is your time to collect them?

May you accept Jesus Christ as your Sovereign Lord and Master and know his joy and peace today…