Monday, December 12, 2016
THE GOSPEL--OUR OASIS ON THE ROAD TO HEAVEN (1)
Isaiah 35:1-2 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, even with joy and singing.
BLOSSOMS IN THE DESERT
This wonderful prophecy occurs in connection with a foretelling of God’s judgment upon a wayward people. For their disobedience Israel's ten northern tribes would be swept away into captivity by the Assyrian army led by Sennacherib (around 700 B.C.). Yet among the captives were a remnant of believers.
Put yourself in the place of these exiled children of God whose lives at times appeared gloomy and desolate, like a spiritual desert. Yet God's prophet foretells a coming age that would change the desert into a blooming oasis. The parched land and the wilderness would be glad and rejoice and shout for joy!
What could bring about such a change for these exiles--and for us who live in the wilderness of this sin-cursed, doomed and dying world? What but the birth of Jesus Christ whom Isaiah had earlier identified as the One who would be called "Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6)!
When the winter "blahs" threaten--with so much going on in this world and even our individual lives that can threaten to depress or discourage--the believers slake their spiritual thirst at the wonderful oasis of the Christmas gospel!
Behold, a Branch is growing Of loveliest form and grace,
As prophets sang, foreknowing; It springs from Jesse's race
And bears on little flow’r In midst of coldest winter,
At deepest midnight hour.
Isaiah had foretold it In words of promise sure,
And Mary's arms enfold it, A virgin meek and pure.
Through God's eternal will This child to her is given
At midnight calm and still.
(Christian Worship, 47:1-2)
