Monday, September 26
Only God is forever
Scripture: Isaiah 51-52, Matthew 8
Isaiah 51:6
Look up to the heavens,
and look at the earth beneath;
for the heavens will vanish like smoke,
the earth will wear out like a garment,
and its inhabitants will die like gnats.
But my salvation will last forever,
and my righteousness will never be shattered.
Observation
The overall theme of this section is the restoration of Israel. God will save them and bring them back from their captivity and plant them again in their land where they will flourish.
In that context, the Lord gives them this word of perspective. The most substantial and permanent things they know—the heavens and earth and all who dwell on it—will vanish. And He uses graphic imagery: the heavens will vanish like smoke; the earth will wear out like an old piece of clothing; the inhabitants of earth will die like gnats (hard to imagine a more insubstantial creature).
All that we know will disappear.
But God and His salvation and righteousness will last forever.
Application
God is forever. Everything else is temporary. It’s hard to keep this eternal perspective. Our senses are overwhelmed by the immediate. So the Lord reminds us—over and over—that He is eternal, His salvation and righteousness last forever.
Our problems don’t. Our suffering doesn’t. Like the Israelites in captivity, we may feel overwhelmed by our troubles. But they are temporary.
The most substantial things in our lives are temporary. Only God is forever.
Remembering this gives us a very different perspective and allows us to weather any storm with peace and hope. This too will pass but God is forever.
Prayer: Lord, help me to live with this eternal perspective. I want to be able to shrug off worry and fear and discouragement—because I know what lasts.