May 17, 2016 - The future, how shall you face it? In this wicked, twisted world that we must live in there is no much to fear, so much to run away from each day.
As Christians, though we are no longer of this world we must still live in this world and endure it's persecutions every day as we stand up for the gospel of Christ our Lord.
Let me show you in the scriptures what we have to look forward to, let's look to Isaiah Chapter 35 for our answers to this question.
The future is bright for those who do follow Jesus, as the scriptures say, the desert shall rejoice, it shall blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly. This is the dry, arid desert the Lord is speaking of here, saying it will blossom abundantly as if it were a rose. "The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice." (Isaiah 35:1-2)
Verse 4 tells us to be strong and not to fear for our God will come with a vengeance and He will save us with His recompense (reward for service). (VS 4) "Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you." Verses 6 & 7 say streams shall burst forth in the desert and the parched ground shall become a pool. There shall be grass where before the jackets lay and there was nothing. (VS 6) "For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. (VS 7) "The parched ground shall become a pool and the thirsty land springs of water, In the habitation of jackets, where each lay, there shall be grass."
Verses 8 & 9 speak of a road there, a highway called the "Highway of Holiness", a place where the non-believer cannot pass. (VS 8) "A highway shall be there and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall shall not pass over it, it shall be for others." Only those who do not go astray will be able to walk there, no lion or other animal will be there, it will be a safe place of travel. (VS 9) "No lion shall be there, now shall any ravenous beast go up on it. It shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there."
At the end of our journey through this world a new time will come, a new age will begin as the temple of Christ is set up in Jerusalem and He rules there for 1000 years. The redeemed will be there, living with Him, serving Him each day, what a time of blessing and rejoicing that will be.
(VS 10) "And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrows and sighing shall flee away." AMEN
So you see, we have so much to look forward to IF we are saved. We need not worry about the sufferings we may have to endure here, the rewards for faithful perseverance are so much greater than our trials it should be a joy for those who are redeemed to endure for Christ.
Keep your eye on Isaiah Chapter 35; knowing our rewards in the future will strengthen us for the trials of the present. May God bless you and keep you..
