Title: Now is the time to wake up.
Contents
♡♥♡ Now is the time to wake up. / Isaiah 60:1-9
*** Introduction
“And ye know the time, that the hour has already come to awake from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” This is Romans 13:11. It has been over 2000 years since he said this. From the time Jesus came, the last generation has already begun. When you look at the world that is moving rapidly now and the movement of nature that is losing the order of God's creation, you can clearly feel that it is the end of the last generation.
Some people say, 'How many times have these things happened so far, didn't people say it was the end every time? But isn't the world still spinning?' Of course it is. People said so when the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were judged by God's fire for their iniquity, and they said so in Noah's day when God judged them with water. People will say the same on the day Jesus comes again. This is because of what God has declared. In Genesis 8:22, God said, “As long as the earth endures, there shall not cease from seed, from harvest, from cold, and from heat, from summer, and from winter, and from day, and from night.” Let's look at Luke 17:26-29 for what the Lord said.
“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man. Until the day Noah entered the ark, people ate and drank, married and were given in marriage, and the flood came and destroyed them all, and it will be just as in the days of Lot, where people ate and drank, bought and sold, planted and built houses. Fire and brimstone rained down from heaven and destroyed them.”
God's judgment will come in an instant, with no time for man to feel and prepare. He said that when Jesus returns, it will happen in such an instant as lightning flashes from east to west. Therefore, the safest way is to prepare in advance. So, how should we Christians, living in this generation, live?
1. Let's look at the background of the text.
Today's text is a prophecy that has not yet arrived, but it shows the historical fact as it is. 70 years have passed since Israel was destroyed by Babylon and lived in captivity. It was a really terrible time. Those humiliating times should rather be called regrets. The land to return to has long since been in ruins. For Israel, who now had nothing left, saying, “We have to start over” was a terrible and deep pain.
But this pain was the grace of God who did not completely destroy them despite their sins. Although Israel was in ruins, it returned to the homeland that those who received God's grace so longed for. The prophet Isaiah said to them, “Arise! Let the light shine!” he proclaims. The reason I can get up and shine is because the shadow of darkness has passed and the light of Israel has come. It used to be darkness because of God's wrath, but now all darkness has been lifted and the glory of the Lord has come. The time of God's mercy toward His people has come.
The cry of the prophet Isaiah is that, in the midst of failures, hardships, frustrations, and ruins, God's work not only takes place, but God is with them. Now Israel must have the courage to start over. What is the meaning we need to find in this verse?
2. It is telling you to shake off your seat and get up.
The place we need to rise from is the seat of death and despair. In other words, we have to shake off and rise from the position that causes spiritual death and where there is no hope for eternal life. These are places where you are immersed in the comforts and pleasures of the world, and are entangled in the affairs of the world.
One day, Jesus said to one of his disciples, “Follow me.” Then the disciple said, “Lord! Please allow me to go first and bury my father.” He asked Jesus for a decision-making end. Then Jesus said, "Let the dead bury their dead, and follow me."
The meaning of the answer of the disciple who was called by Jesus was, ‘I will follow after his father’s death.’ The Lord has left the worldly things to the people of the world and told you to follow me. In other words, he is urging those who hesitate to make a decision for life.
It was when Jesus came to Jericho. Bartimaeus, a blind beggar sitting by the roadside begging, heard that Jesus was passing by and cried out. “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” People around Bartimaeus ignored Bartimaeus and threatened him not to scream. But Bartimaeus, who seized the opportunity of a lifetime, screamed even more. Eventually, Jesus stopped and told him to call. When the people heard that Jesus was calling Bartimaeus, he threw off his cloak, got up and went to Jesus.
This shows that Bartimaeus' determination is great. He took off the robe of the beggar he had been wearing until now as his identity. It was a firm belief that he would never again sit in the seat of the blind. Jesus declared to Bartimaeus, “According to the faith it shall be done.” Bartimaeus immediately opened his eyes, and he was no longer blind or beggar according to his faith and determination.
Jesus calls for a decision toward those who are hesitating between the world and God. It is because if we become entangled in the affairs of the world and neglect eternal life, we will lose the opportunity of eternal life. So, you have to get out of your seat and get up.
In order to survive in King Ahab's time, we had to follow idols even if we hated it. This is because Queen Jezebel persecuted the people while standing up like a guardian of the idols of Baal and Asherah. The people could not do this or that, so they went back and forth between God and idols. To these people of Israel, the prophet Elijah said, “How long will you hesitate between the two? If the LORD is God, follow him; if Baal is God, follow him.” He urged them to decide which one to choose. However, the people could not make up their minds and did not give any answers. This is because the life that we can see and feel now comes before the invisible God.
Following the Lord is never easy. Wouldn't it be easy to transcend the reality in front of you right now? But if you hesitate because it is difficult, you will miss out on eternal life and the life of glory. Guys, let your body that wants to feel comfortable again and again. We need to turn our hearts, which are taken away by worldly things, back to the Lord. We must keep our eyes on the world and not lose sight of the Lord. That's why the Apostle Paul warns in Romans 8:13, "If you live according to the flesh, you will surely die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."
Why do we have to stand up like this? The reason is that God has glorified us.
3. It is a message to show a Christian life.
God has said to us, “Let the light shine.” This is God's command for this age. In other words, it is our mission to proclaim and practice the absurd world in which we live in disobedience to God. Now the Korean church must rise up and start over with courage. We need to get up from our sleep and shine a light so that the people of the world can find the way of life. Our Daebok Church must now find out what we must do before it is too late. But, what are we to do? Let's look at Luke 3:9-14.
“The ax is already at the root of the trees; every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. The crowd asked, "Then what shall we do?" They answered and said, "He who has two coats will give to the one who has no clothes, and he who has something to eat." And the publicans also wanted to be baptized. And he came and said, 'Teacher, what shall we do?' And he said, 'Do not be arrogant except for the appointed tax.' And the soldiers also asked, "What shall we do?" Know that the charges you receive are sufficient.'”
When your own lamp is off, it's quite natural, but you can't light the way. Therefore, I need to check whether the lamp of my own faith is lit, and prepare enough oil for the lamp. You should do it now while you still have the opportunity and have the time.
The reason we should show such a Christian life is that the glory of Jehovah rests upon us. If we obey and follow God's commands in this way, even when the world becomes dark and dark, God's glory will appear to us and we will be able to enjoy a full life. This is the content of verses 2-9 of the main text.
Although the times before us are dark and chaotic, this is the time when true faith shines. God's power with us never runs out, and He does not spare Himself for the saints He loves.
When the Israelites complained about wanting to eat meat in the wilderness, God promised to let them eat until they were exhausted for a month. Then Moses said to God, “This people with me has 600,000 pedestrians, and the word of the Lord is, 'I will give you meat to eat for a month.' Is it enough to gather all the meat of the city?” He complained that it was impossible to make this many people eat meat for a month. Then God said to Moses, “Is the hand of the Lord short? Now you will see whether my words will answer you.”
Let's stand up believing in God's promises to us. So, I pray that those who believe and obey will hear the voice of the Lord saying, “According to your faith,” I pray.