A Spiritual Perspective

It is an amazing perspective on how much God loves us with His unconditional love.  It is hard to imagine what that truly looks like while we live in a world so riddled with the effects of sin.

Isaiah 61: 3 (GWT)  He has sent me to provide for all those who grieve in Zion, to give them crowns instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of [tears of] grief, and clothes of praise instead of a spirit of weakness. They will be called Oaks of Righteousness, the Plantings of the LORD, so that he might display his glory.

What is the perspective that God would desire that we espouse in light of this knowledge of His unconditional love?  Let me continue with Isaiah:

Isaiah 61:4-5 (GWT) They will rebuild the ancient ruins.

They will restore the places destroyed long ago.

They will renew the ruined cities, the places destroyed generations ago.

                Foreigners will come forward and become shepherds for your flocks,

                and children of foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

The heart of God is always turned toward restoration and He has elected us as agents of that restoration.  Whether it is in our personal lives or in our communities, restoration is the ultimate purpose of our agency or calling.

Isaiah 61:6-7 (GWT) You will be called the priests of the Lord.

    You will be called the servants of our God.

    You will consume the wealth of the nations.

    You will boast in their splendor.

You will receive a double measure of wealth instead of your shame.

    You will sing about your wealth instead of being disgraced.

    That is why you will have a double measure of wealth in your land.

        You will have everlasting joy.

God always has had a place for us, and a role that He had purposed for us to occupy before time began. A place of perfect peace free of shame and full of Joy!

Isaiah 61:8-9 (GWT) I, the Lord, love justice.

    I hate robbery and wrongdoing.

    I will faithfully reward my people’s work.

    I will make an everlasting promise to them.

Then their offspring will be known among the nations

    and their descendants among the people.

        Everyone who sees them will recognize

            that they are the descendants whom the Lord has blessed.

That has always been the amazing thing about God—His faithfulness!  Even when we are unfaithful.  God will turn us and again bring us to a place of displaying His glory.

Isaiah 61:10-11 (GWT) I will find joy in the Lord.

    I will delight in my God.

    He has dressed me in the clothes of salvation.

    He has wrapped me in the robe of righteousness

        like a bridegroom with a priest’s turban,

        like a bride with her jewels.

Like the ground that brings forth its crops

    and like a garden that makes the seed in it grow,

        so the Almighty Lord will make righteousness and praise

            spring up in front of all nations.

Why would God do this?  What would be His reasoning for making us examples of His righteousness?  Obviously it isn’t because we were good enough or we somehow earned it, it is for only one specific reason that God makes us examples—that is so He can demonstrate His glory as stated in verse 3 above.

This perspective comes full circle.  He demonstrates His unconditional love to us so that he can demonstrate His unconditional love to others through us.  In someways we become like mirrors that reflect his glory.  It's the polishing process that ends up being so painful.

This past Christmas I was grieved as were many others about the shooting at the Sandy Hook elementary school in Middleton, Connecticut.  There is no way that I could understand the senselessness of the shootings and the impact on the families affected. The shootings seemed so random that it was hard to find words that would  make sense of it all.  The knee jerk reaction of this shooting was fear.  Fear has taken hold of the minds of many families here in the U.S.  There has been a recent rush to buy guns and rifles by many Americans as gun bans are being considered by the legislature.  Many gun stores have recently sold out of their stock due to this fear.

I for one do not believe the answer is more guns, as I do not believe that fear is the correct response to tragedy.   

I received an email this morning which prompted me to write this blog entry today. As my friend Darrell Brantingham noted several months ago, the world will be getting much worse before it gets better.  Even though my mind desperately wants an answer as to why the shootings occurred, the email (included below) helped me to find “perspective” on God’s heart and His unconditional love for His creation and His peace.     I hope you receive that peace too.  

            T'was 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38

when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.

Their smiles were contagious; their laughter filled the air...

They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.

They were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.

They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.

"Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.

"This is heaven." declared a small boy. "we're spending Christmas at God's house."

When what to their wondering eyes did appear,

but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.

He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.

Then He opened His arms and He called them by name.

And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring

those children all flew into the arms of their King.

And as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,

one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.

And as if He could read all the questions she had

He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."

Then He looked down on earth, the world far below,

He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe.

Then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,

"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"

"May this country be delivered from the hands of fools"

"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"

Then He and the children stood up without a sound,

"Come now my children, let me show you around."

Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran,

all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.

And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,

"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

                Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA

I would also suggest that you re-read Isaiah 61 again, God was considering His love for you when He spoke it.