Finding All You Will Ever Need In A Crisis - Grace

I just finished a study on the Book of Hebrews. The main point of Hebrews is that the New Covenant of grace is far superior to the Old Covenant of law. It is a lesson in the preeminence of Christ, our Savior.

I love how the author finishes the letter.

Hebrews 13:25

Grace be with all of you.

Grace. It is the most wonderful gift of God. It is what we must live both under and in. We must receive it to be saved and we must give it to live out our calling from God.

Grace. It is what we need to get through every step of life; both the good and the bad.

When Paul cried out to God to take away the throb=n in his side, God's answer to his prayer was this, "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

And how does Paul respond?

Paul said, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

We are in difficult times. I would offer this is a calamity.

God will answer our prayers for healing and protection in different ways.

But he has answered those who live by faith in His Son, Jesus, already in this sense:

He has given us grace. No matter what else happens in this life, in the coming days, weeks, and maybe months, He has given us grace and that is sufficient to get us through whatever earthly things happen until He calls us home to be with Him.

His grace is sufficient for you, for His power is made perfect in weakness.

So, Grace be with all of you.

How To Get Up When It Seems Hopeless

This morning is one of those mornings when I realize the value of the exercise of spiritual discipline. Every morning I commit myself to first telling God thank you for simply giving me another day. Then I open the Bible study I am working on. It begins with scripture, then it breaks it down verse by verse, providing interpretation and application, using scripture itself to interpret scripture, for that is proper way to study God’s Word. I ask the Holy Spirit to come be my teacher and to open my mind to understand things, I am not smart enough to do on my own. I make notes on the verses. When my study time is complete, I go into prayer mode. I start with praise, worship, and thanksgiving. Then I have a book in which I have written down the names of the prayer requests I am aware of and the names of those who God places on my heart. Because I am on the prayer team at my church, I then pray through those requests. Having completed all this, I can now go on with my day. Yes, there are days I might fail to do these things for various reasons. But most days this is the course I follow.

Sounds good doesn’t it. Makes me kinda look like some super Christian. I am not. I am probably the least of all, I give Paul a good run at the “chief of all sinners” thing.

This morning, in the midst of this chaos and uncertainty we are living in, I woke up and wondered, why even get up? I know the news today will be bad. The market will continue to drop, there are more sick people, and some have died. It’s dreary and rainy out. The government doesn’t want me to go out, there is little to do anyway, everything being closed, and when I do go out, some are going to call me selfish and taking risks that I shouldn’t be exposing them to. So why not just lay in bed and let depression have its way with me?

But I did get up. I thanked God for another Day. I made my tea and sat down and followed through with my morning spiritual discipline. You see, this discipline is more than what it sounds like on paper. It is time with God. Every single bit of it is God and I in conversation. It is God and I relating and loving each other. It is the spiritual equivalent of a husband and wife going through all the things two lovers go through. It is intimacy. It is conversation. It is finding comfort in being held and being touched. It is everything marriage ought to be. We are the bride of Christ. It is everything childhood ought to be. God is our father and we are His children. It is the perfect meal. My hunger is fed, and my thirst is quenched, for Jesus is the bread of life and He is the living water.

Here is my morning Bible passage.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. - Hebrews 12:1-3

What God had to say to me this morning is perfect to where I was when I woke up. I can look back at those great men of faith, who ran the race of life before me. They made it through many great and difficult trials and battles the same way we must. They looked to God, to the hope of the coming Jesus, who not only founded their faith, He perfected it. And because of their faith in Jesus, whom they had never seen and had far less revelation of than you and I have, they endured the agonizing marathon of life.

Because of Jesus, they did not grow weary or fainthearted. They put aside the weights of both worldly things, not sins, just weights of the world, and the sin that weighs us down.

Why get out of bed? Why go on? Because Jesus endured the cross, despised the shame, and now sits at the right hand of His Father where He has founded our faith and he is perfecting it until the day He takes us home.

These are difficult days. It would be easy to just quit.

But I shall not. I will look to Jesus. I will keep getting up every morning and spending time with Him and His Father. You must do the same. The only hope we have is Jesus and that hope is a sure hope.

I leave you with a scripture that, thanks to my wife, who gave me a little visor clip that had it on it, allowed me every day at work to remember its hope. This is what we need to remember in these scary days.

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.  He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,  But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. - Isaiah 40:28-31  

Fix your eyes in Jesus. Then run and don’t get weary.

The Battle Against Fear and Anxiety in the Midst of Death

Fear, worry, anxiety, and a plethora of other emotions are knocking at each of our doors as we begin another week that looks to be even scarier than the last. I’m not anymore immune to this than anyone else is. Though I’ve continually preached against panic and overreaction, the temptation to do so is attempting to rise up in my own mind. Adding to the fears are the government’s response to lock us all down, through the orders to close restaurants, bars, and prohibit public gatherings. I can get by without going to Cracker Barrel and Bandanas to eat. I don’t drink alcohol, so the ability to go to a bar won’t matter one bit to me. But the straw that threatens to break the camel’s back in my life, is the closing of parks and fishing venues. I need the outdoors. I need to be in my kayak away from the problems of normal life, much less the newest issues we all face in the midst of this craziness. Even worse, my ability to gather with fellow brothers and sisters to worship and pray is most likely going to be taken from us.

All of this contributes to the temptation to let the fear and anxiety win.

But I will not go down without a fight. As a matter of fact, I won’t lose the war. I might get my rear end kicked in a few battles, but the war has already been won by my King, King Jesus. Every day I put on the spiritual armor as we read of in Ephesians 6. In case you forgot what that says or aren’t familiar with it, here it is. We need to do what this says.

Ephesians 6:10-20  

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;  and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,  praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,  and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,  for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

The Sword of the Spirit and prayer are the only two offensive weapons we see in this. And as I stand against the enemy’s attack on my peace, I will yield these weapons with the full force of the Holy Spirit’s power.

The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. I will live and I will pray through it and by it. In the midst of this battle, I am reminded of the story of three men who stood firm against the threat of death. They refused to submit to a king who demanded they worship him instead of God. Their names are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Their story is found in Daniel 3:8-30. Take a few minutes, open your Bible and read the story. But it can quickly be summed up as this.

They were ordered to worship the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. If they still refused, they were to be cast into a burning fiery furnace.

Listen to their response, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.”

I love it. Pure, unadulterated rebellion against the king, who not only wanted to stop them from worshipping God, but also wanted them to worship his man-made god.  These are my kind of guys.

But what they said next is of even more importance.

“But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

We must understand something here. God has the power to deliver us from every and any danger this world might throw at us. Scripture tells us that nothing is too hard for God. Look at Jeremiah 32:26-27. This is God speaking. “The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” Matthew 19:26 says that “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego believed God would save them from the fiery furnace. They knew with 100% certainty, He could.  But even if God did not save them, they were still going to worship the one and only true God, not the false image of the king.

That, my friends, is faith. Faith in God. The kind of faith that says, God, whatever it is you allow to happen today, is okay with us, because we trust you.

The story ends well. More than well, it ends in a preincarnate appearance of Christ, who performs a miracle that changes everything.

Daniel 3:24-25

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste; he said to his high officials, "Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?" They replied to the king, "Certainly, O king." He said, "Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!"

Daniel 3:24-25  

Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste; he said to his high officials, "Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?" They replied to the king, "Certainly, O king."  He said, "Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!"

It gets even better.

Daniel 3:28-30  

Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king's command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God.  "Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way."  Then the king caused Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego to prosper in the province of Babylon.

Our faith will be tested today. The stock market will most likely crash even more. Some of us will catch the corona virus. Some people will die today. Fear will continue to grow. And our government will continue to ask us to trust them. In a sense, they are like Nebuchadnezzar, they want us to cower in fear and place our faith in them. That is a form of worship.

I am tempted to be afraid.

But I shall stand against the enemy and I will refuse to bow to the world and its false offer of protection.

My God whom I serve is able to deliver me from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver me out of their hand. But even if He doesn’t, if by the end of the week my entire pension fund is gone, if this virus has invaded my body and takes my very breath away, and even if the National Guard sets up a perimeter around my house and tells me I cannot go to church Sunday, I will not worship the king. Instead I will worship THE KING, my Lord, my Savior, Jesus Christ.

I will pray. I will worship. I will read His Holy Word. I will do more than believe in God, I will believe God. And I will not be alone, for Jesus has promised me this.

Matthew 28:20  

“I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Deuteronomy 31:6  

"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."

Faith and Science

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. - Hebrews 11:3  

Man has an innate desire for knowledge and understanding. In his quest to attain such knowledge, he created something we call science. Science comes from the Latin word scientia, which means knowledge. Merriam-Webster defines it as “the state of knowing : knowledge as distinguished from ignorance or misunderstanding.” Knowledge then is defined as “the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association.

Man has been practicing the art of science since around 3500 years before Christ came. There is probably no greater quest in science than the quest to explain where all this came from. We Christians refer to this as the creation. Every single thing that exists within our entire universe had to come from somewhere. Logically, it would make sense that there must be a “science” to it. There must be a fact or condition of knowing how the creation got here. There must be knowledge distinguished from ignorance or misunderstanding.

Yet, in the 5500 some years man has used science to try and explain how everything came into existence, the truth is that he has yet to prove anything. Yes, we have theories. But we do not have knowledge, there are no proven facts that explain the beginning. So far, science has failed us in that area.

Then we have us Christians. And even those who believed in God before the time of Jesus. Hebrews 11:3 is our science. “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”

That has just as much factual proof as does the Big Bang Theory. Or any other of man’s scientific efforts to prove where it all began.

I am a very logical person. I’m not the smartest. But I do believe in logic. I have yet to meet or hear anyone speak who can logically explain the universe without admitting that the only logical explanation has to include the concept of something being eternal. Logic completely defies any though that includes the theory that something came from nothing. Yet in our finite, human mind, eternity seems illogical. It’s a bit of a paradox, I think.

Enter the Bible. The Bible says that God is eternal, and He always existed and always will. The Bible says he spoke everything into creation. Interestingly, the Bible never tries to explain how God could be eternal or where He came from. It just says that He is. In the Old Testament, God simply refers to Himself as “I AM.” When Moses asked who he should tell the people sent him, God said, “Tell them I AM has sent me to you.” God has no interest in proving Himself.

It takes faith to believe that. I believe it. Logically, I shouldn’t. I am one of the most untrusting and skeptical people you will ever meet. I question everything. I challenge things people say all the time. I have always tried to prove or disprove what people say. Yet, when I read the Bible and God says I AM, I simply believe that. Since that doesn’t line up with my own logic, I can only believe this; my faith is from God.

Hebrews 11:6 says that “without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Hebrews 12:2 says that “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

My logical nature is overridden by the author and perfecter of my faith. I did not drum up this faith. God has given it to me.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God - Ephesians 2:8  

So, I know where we came from and how we got here.

By faith I understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

That’s all I need. How about you? If you took the time to read all this, even if you doubt at this time, God has a message for you.

For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.  'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  'You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:11-13  

Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. - Isaiah 55:6  

Have you? Will you?

The Dangers of Drifting Away

This is the text of my Bible study for today.

Hebrews 2:1-4

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

The first chapter of Hebrews declares the excellencies of Christ. In today’s reading comes a warning and this is the warning; in light of Christ and who He is, we need to pay closer attention to what we have heard. This means what the Bible tells us and specifically what the Gospel says, has a great importance to it. It has eternal consequences.

Hebrews was technically written to the Jews, but its truths are just as important to us today. We need to pay closer attention. If we don’t, we are in danger of drifting away from it. As Christians, it is easy to drift away from the life we know we are called to live. We can neglect the commands. We can even forget the promises and the inheritance we have gained through our adoption into the family of God, and then fear and worry creep in. When that happens, we lose the confidence and the faith in the promise of Jesus. So, yes, we ought to pay closer attention to what we have heard because God was the first to declare it to us. We can also read the Bible and we can read what the apostles and early men of the church attest to.

But the warning here in Hebrews is speaking more so to the unsaved. While there are those who aggressively reject the Gospel, there are many more who simply neglect it, even though they have heard it, they admit it is a good thing, but they simply let themselves drift away from it.

There is a story about a man who fell asleep while in his boat on the Niagara River. He knew the river ended in the great falls. He never intended to float that for before turning back. But as he slept, the boat drifted all the way to the falls and suddenly it was too late. He went over the falls and died. He didn’t die because of what he did, he died because of what he didn’t do. His death was a result of drifting.

So many people say that they know they ought to do something about their salvation. They say that one day, they will. But like the man in the boat, they fall asleep and drift all the way until its too late. Please, take heed of the truth.

As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.  For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. - 2 Corinthians 6:1-2  

Now is the day to receive God’s grace. Pay attention to what you have heard, that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Don’t neglect such a great salvation.

Open up your Bible. Read of the excellencies of Christ. Learn of Him.

Most of us remember the story of the man who asked, “Sir, what must I do to be saved?” But the answer to the question of, “What must I do to not be saved?” is simply this; do nothing.  

Don’t do nothing. Don’t just drift your way to eternal damnation and separation from God. Hear the answer to “What must I do to be saved.”

"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved."

Pay close attention to what you have heard. Don’t neglect such a great salvation. Do it today, before it’s too late. Do it today because it will change your whole life and your eternity.

7 Excellencies of Jesus That Show Us His Glory

Studying the Book of Hebrews for the next month or so and it starts off with a powerful picture of Jesus and the excellence of who He is and what He does.

Hebrews 1:1-4

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

We see that there are seven declarations of His excellency to be found in this reading.

First, we see that Jesus is God’s heir, having been appointed the “heir of all things.” This reminds us that every single thing that exists, is the possession of Jesus. Colossians 1:16 tells us that “all things were created through Him and for Him.” None of our possessions, not even our children, are actually ours and they are not given to us for our own purposes, but to bring glory to God.

There is, however, great news in this for the future of all who have placed their faith in Christ. Romans 8:16-17 tells us that, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,  and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

The second declaration of Christ’s excellency is that He is the one through whom God made the world. The text says that “through whom also he created the world.” John 1:3 testifies to this as well, saying “All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” Nothing exists that Jesus didn’t speak into existence.  

Thirdly, we see that Jesus is “the radiance of the glory of God.” To be the radiance of God’s glory means that the light of God is shining brightly through Him. Hebrews begins by telling us that “in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” In the Old Testament days, it was only though the prophets by which God revealed Himself. But when Jesus came, we can all see His light and get a glimpse of the Glory of God through Jesus. The world we live in is a very dark place, but the light of Christ has brought hope to all of us. 2 Corinthians 4:6 reminds us of this, “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Next we see that in Christ’s very being, is the excellency of God and who He is. The text says that” He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.” We’ve all heard the saying “Like father, like son.” When we look at Jesus, we see the exact representation of God, the Father. Colossians 1:15 tells us that, “He is the image of the invisible God.” Though we cannot see God, through Jesus and the revelation of him through the Bible, we can know Him and worship Him by seeing the excellency of Jesus, for Jesus is the “exact imprint [representation] of His nature.”

The fifth excellency of Christ seen in this reading, is that of His administration or His work in governing the universe. Jesus “upholds the universe by the word of his power.” Not only did Jesus create this world, he keeps it running in perfect harmony. Science attests to the balance required to keep us alive. One of the plethora of things in the universe that must be, for life to exist and be sustained, is the sun and its heat. If we were just a tad bit closer to the sun, its intense heat would burn us up. If we drifted a little bit away, we would all freeze to death. Jesus is sustaining it all and he does it just as He created it, by the “word of His power.” Jesus only needs to speak, and He can create, sustain, and resurrect all life. This provides us with great comfort and is the reason, we needn’t put as much concern into the global warming thing, but instead ought to focus on living for Jesus and submitting ourselves to Him.

The sixth point of His excellency is found in His sacrifice. Jesus made the “purification for sin.” This is what separates the Old Testament from the new and the old covenant and the new covenant. Unlike the repeated sacrifices of the priests of the old covenant, which had to continuously be offered, Jesus finished it all with the one sacrifice, His blood shed on the cross. Hebrews 7:27 explains that, “He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.” John 19:30 tells us that “when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" We can live in new life and in restored fellowship with God because Jesus has made the ultimate sacrifice.

The seventh and final excellency we see of Jesus is of His exaltation. The text tells us that “He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. First of all, it is important to note that there were no seats for the priests in the tabernacle or the temple, for their work was never done. But Jesus has finished it. He sits at the right hand, which is the side that represents power. This means Jesus can rest from the work of redemption, for he settled that on the cross. But it also the place where He sits right next to our father in Heaven and intercedes for us as Romans 8:34 declares. Jesus is right now, speaking to His Father, on your behalf. Yes, you personally.

These seven aspects of the excellency of Christ give us so much hope. They are foundations for our faith. They show us why we can trust, not only our eternal destination to Him, but even our lives as we live them out on this earth.

The Book of Hebrews is a book that declares the preeminence of Christ. As we read it, we find ourselves humbled as we learn of Him and we grow closer to Him in a personal relationship. The Christian is not involved in a religion, as the world thinks we are. The Christian is in a love relationship with Jesus and we are His bride. Let us honor and worship Him for simply who He is, the radiance of the Glory of God.

A question came up in my small group about something God says to Israel in Isaiah 43:4, which reads, "Since you are precious in My sight, Since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.

The question is this: Why would God say they (Israel) are honored?

As Christians we all should be able to understand why God, deserves our honor. But why Israel? What was so special about them they God would declare them “honored?”

If we look closely at Isaiah 43, we find that it begins with the word “but” so, that tells us this section is in response to the previous section of Isaiah. Looking back to the beginning of Isaiah 42, we find God reminding Israel that they are His servant people through which His Word was entrusted and since the Book of Isaiah is a messianic prophecy of Christ, it is Israel by which the Gospel will be initiated and sent out to the world. Paul reminds us of this in Romans 3:1-2 saying this, “Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?  Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.”

Israel was entrusted with oracles of God. That is how much he thought of them. So, here in Isaiah, God is reminding Israel how precious they are to Him and also reminding them of His protection over them and reminding them that they need “fear not”, because he has in the past and will in the future deliver them from harm.

Look at the verses just before 43:4

Isaiah 43:1-3
But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!  "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.  "For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place.

 

Now based on God’s deep love and choice of Israel, they can rest in faith that God is their protector and deliverer. Now, we get to verses 4 & 5.

 

Isaiah 43:4-5
"Since you are precious in My sight, Since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.  "Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, And gather you from the west.”

 

God would state this again in Isaiah 49:5
And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him (For I am honored in the sight of the LORD, And My God is My strength)

 

Why can they live without fear? Because they are precious to them. They are honored by Him. They are loved by Him. He will be with them. And God says that “I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.” Is this not a picture of what God has done for us in sending Jesus to be our payment and substitution for our sins?

 

So, the question as to why God honors them? Simply because He chose them. One needn’t look all that hard at the history of the Jewish nation and it is easy to see that they failed God many times. Even Abraham, the forefather of all Israel, exhibited some horrible behaviors throughout his life, even lying about Sarah being his wife to save his own cowardly skin and he did so placing her at great risk. Israel constantly fell back into idolatry and even as Moses was getting the commandments from God, they were crying out for Aaron to make them gods to follow which lead to the making of the golden calf. Clearly Israel was not something special and holy that God felt compelled to reach out to.

 

The spiritual application here to us is that we, as the church, the bride of Christ has also been chosen to be His. Not because of anything we did, do, or will do, but simply out of His sovereign choice, we have been placed in a position of honor by the exchange of Christ’s righteousness for our unrighteousness as we read of in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

 

Like Israel, we fail God often. But like Israel, we can live without fear. We can know that we are so loved by God that he has bestowed upon us the honor that only Jesus deserves. Again, it isn’t our goodness that deserves this honor, it is God’s love, through His grace and mercy, and by which through His sovereign choice of both the nation Israel and His church, we are so precious in His eyes.  

 

The prophecies of Isaiah, speak as much to us as they did to the Jews. God has displayed His awesome love, His mercy, and His grace through His sovereign choice, not based on anything we are.

 

The honor bestowed upon all of is a result of the finished work of Christ on the cross. And even in the Old Testament is that wonderful truth of the Gospel found. As Isaiah prophesied so many years ago, God gave another for all of us. That was Jesus. In Him we are honored by God. So much that we have this great hope, “To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - 2 Thessalonians 2:14