Life Link Devotional

Monday, August 5, 2019

Think back to the last time you celebrated an incredible victory. Maybe it was a Super Bowl win for your team. Maybe your child won a state championship. Your excitement level was through the roof. Life seemed so satisfying. You thought that feeling would never end.

I wonder how many people woke up the next day to discover that the heaviness of life returned to their hearts? No matter how great the moment of victory, it was temporary. It did absolutely nothing to satisfy the longing of our hearts for meaning and purpose. It’s sad to realize the disappointment of putting our hope in personal accomplishments.

Isaiah 33:20    Look upon Zion, the city of our festivals; your eyes will see Jerusalem, a peaceful abode, a tent that will not be moved; its stakes will never be pulled up, nor any of its ropes broken.

There is a victory coming someday that will satisfy every longing of our human hearts. For many of us the victory is already being experienced in our spirit. Others will discover the truth soon, maybe even today. Greg Jennings of the Green Bay Packers testified to it after their last Super Bowl victory. In the middle of the awe of victory, he looked up and around at all that was happening and declared in front of a worldwide audience, “Glory to God.” As great as that moment was after such a thrilling victory, it was not to be compared with the awe we have for Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Look up and around, for the day of the Lord is coming with greater majesty and splendor than any sporting victory could produce. Jesus is coming, and when He does He will fill the world with the spectacle of His presence. The blessings of His victory will satisfy us for all eternity.

In Isaiah 33, the Lord says the world will be different after His return. This is what we truly long for with all our hearts:

• Peace and Permanence – verse 20 – a peaceful abode, a tent that will not be moved; its stakes will never be pulled up, nor any of its ropes broken.
• Powerful leadership – verse 21 – There the LORD will be our Mighty One.     
• Protection – verse 21 – It will be like a place of broad rivers and streams. No galley with oars will ride them, no mighty ship will sail them. Broad rivers refers to the borders of the land being uncrossable by any enemy.
• Justice and Righteousness – verse 22 – For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is he who will save us.
• Complete trust in God alone – verse 23 – Your rigging hangs loose: The mast is not held secure, the sail is not spread.     
• Plenty of provisions for every person’s needs – verse 23 – Then an abundance of spoils will be divided and even the lame will carry off plunder.
• Perfect health and well-being – verse 24 –  No one living in Zion will say, “I am ill”;     
• The forgiveness of all sin – verse 24 – and the sins of those who dwell there will be forgiven.

Go ahead – celebrate the victories. But don’t let any earthly victory become more important than the victory that is to come when Jesus returns – a victory you can pre-celebrate every day of your life and one that is eternally more significant.

Pastor John