Bible in a Year Series - Day #205 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible. Click here to learn more. You are most welcome to join along at any time.
Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Isaiah 34-35.
The book of Isaiah tells of the destruction of Israel, Judah, and then speaks of a final future destruction of creation itself with all of its inhabitants.
Chapter 34 is very difficult to read. Who can understand such things?
To complicate things, at least in my mind, I can hear false preachers thumping their pulpits looking to scare people out of their money.
Like it or not, Isaiah has made it very clear. There are two groups of people in this future judgment:
- the judged
- the ransomed
Now, a decision by almighty God is forced upon us: choose.
I suppose, when staring at this final day of the Lord, and trying to wrap one's mind around creation being torn asunder, and the unrighteous being slaughtered by God, and sent to an eternal living judgment in hell, we must keep in mind that it isn't like he didn't warn us about such a day.
Just as in the destruction of Israel, and Judah, God sent centuries worth of prophets warning people to stop defying their Creator.
So too, for thousands of years, God has also given us this warning of a final day of judgment.
The great problem is that our fallen natures are prone to scoff at such things.
"This is nonsense", says our human reason!
And again, it all boils down to a choice. Do we believe in God? Do we believe that the Bible contains God's word to us?
As Josh McDowell has written in his many books, there exists, to the serious student, a mountain of evidence that requires that we make a decision.
Furthermore, to simply stick our heads in the sand and make no decision is not only cowardly, but is always a foolish thing to do.
If we go all the way back to Joshua, as God was preparing the Promised Land for Israel, Joshua stood before all Israel and said the same thing:
"...choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)
I'm with Joshua on this one. How about you?
