What Eternity Tastes Like!

Sometimes reading through the prophets of the Bible can be a little awkward, and not a little depressing.  No doubt as we’ve been carving a path through Isaiah the last few weeks, there has been plenty of scandalous material to consider – some of which I never really stopped to think about before.  I hope it has been enlightening and encouraging for you too.

But here’s where its all headed.

Some say that the biggest problem with the church today is not compromised morals, or a leadership crisis, or secularism…but a real loss of focus of where things are headed.  When you know where you’re headed, you’ll work together to get there – when you disagree about the end game, bickering and meandering ensues.

Chapter 25 is Isaiah’s best look at the final scene for all humanity – a climax in the prophecy and a reminder of what we can look forward to and passionately pursue together:

First, there will be judgment of all the earth, not out of pure wrath and anger, but out of a desire to create a new community built on faithfulness.  (verse 1)  This is a community that is all-inclusive; including all nations, and all peoples! (v 3, 6-7, see also Revelation 7:9 for a great picture of this last scene in future-prophecy!)

Yahweh God is seen toppling the self-centered cities, and establishing a new kind of city, centered on God himself and welcoming the refugees from across the globe.  At first, this dismantling of human civilization will terrorize people of the earth, but then they will see the beauty of God’s new creation!

In his incredible new civilization, God will prepare a banquet table on his mountain – where all people are welcome. And as part of the dinner’s entertainment, the whole earth will watch as Yahweh slays death, and then “swallow it up forever!”  Death is for dessert! The dining crowd will shout in celebration and God will wipe every tear from all faces.

This is where things are headed: A new kind of civilization, God-centered – with representatives from every “tongue, tribe, and nation” giving praise to the God who conquers death and invites us into table fellowship with him and each other!

But the surprise is, you have the chance to live that amazing future is now! Why wait until the end of the book – God invites you to try out this incredible life today.  Its better than the cynicism or fear you’ve been taught to expect out of life.  This is a new way to be human – a way emerges out of faithfulness rather than fear.

Give it a try – experience table fellowship and reconciliation with a few others.  Start communities of faith among every tongue, tribe and nation represented in your city!  Cultivate God-centered community as you wait for the new Jerusalem to come in full.  See what is possible with God.  See what eternity tastes like!

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