"God Wins" September 27 Readings: Isaiah 64-65, 2 Corinthians 11:16–33, Psalm 108:6–13, Proverbs 23:31–33

Today's Readings -  Isaiah 64-65, 2 Corinthians 11:16–33, Psalm 108:6–13, Proverbs 23:31–33 

Devotional 

History is a tragic story. God created this world as a paradise. It was filled with beauty, natural wonders we cannot even imagine. It was a place of true joy and pleasure, meant for a man and woman to enjoy each other and to raise a family in peace. And best of all, God was there. He walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the Garden. That was the world as God intended.

But we came along and messed everything up. The first human pair rejected the God who made them and who placed them in a beautiful world. They chose the path of darkness instead of light, of destruction rather than glory.

We rejected God, but he did not reject us. He could have destroyed this world or he perhaps just turned us over to our own devices, to suffer the consequences of our sin. But that is not what God did. He went to work to reverse the curse of sin and to restore the beauty of his creation.

That is what the millennium is; a time when Christ rules this world bodily for a thousand years. It is described in Isaiah 65.

“For I will create a new heaven and a new earth;
the past events will not be remembered or come to mind.
 18 Then be glad and rejoice forever
in what I am creating;
for I will create Jerusalem to be a joyand its people to be a delight. Isaiah 65:17-18

After he comes again in glory, Jesus will renew this world. The times of sin and suffering will be forgotten as God creates a new world for his people to enjoy. 

As sin's curse is done away with, long life returns.

In her, a nursing infant will no longer live
only a few days,
or an old man not live out his days.
Indeed, the one who dies at a hundred years old
will be mourned as a young man,
and the one who misses a hundred yearswill be considered cursed.. 65:20

Labor will no longer be cursed as it was after the fall, but life will be blessed by God in every way. 

They will not labor without success
or bear children destined for disaster,
for they will be a people blessed by the Lordalong with their descendants.. 65:23

Nature will be restored. Natural disasters and dangers will be done away with. 

The wolf and the lamb will feed together,and the lion will eat straw like cattle. 65:25

Herbivorous lions? Things will be very different. Wolves and lambs feeding together, safely!

The most important and wonderful aspect of this millennial reign is that God's nearness and intimacy will be restored. The wall of separation between God and man erected by our sin will have been torn down. 

Even before they call, I will answer;while they are still speaking, I will hear. 65:24

The millennium is God's victory in world history. His original design, his glorious intent for this world, for nature, for humanity, will be restored. We may have messed up the world that God created, but his power is so great he can recreate it. What we break, he fixes. That is how amazing our God is. 

Our God is greater than our sin. In the grand scheme of world history,

God wins.

Father, I rejoice that no matter how bad things get today, I can be confident in your ultimate victory over sin - mine and this world's. 

Think and Pray

Jesus will rule the world in glory and power.
If he will do such a great job of ruling the world, will he not do a great job of ruling your life?
Trust the God of Heaven!