The Real Meaning of Life

Although this is the last chapter in the Book of Isaiah, we’re not done yet because as we are studying chronologically, there’s some chapters we jumped over and will go back to. And I confess, and confession is good, Isaiah is so poetic and so much over my head, that I’m always glad when it’s over because I’m a very simple guy and it would be like reading “War and Peace”, over and over again, which by the way, I’ve never read. Go figure.

But this chapter is a good one as it is yet another prophesy about the end time. Let’s look at it closer, but first a prayer.

“Father, Your word is critically important to us. We place our trust and faith in You, to open our hearts and minds to understanding, to send Your Holy Spirit into us to teach us and show us the truth. Impress on us the important things we need to know in life. And as for me, put the words in my mouth to share my faith with others. Amen”.

“I love God.” “I worship my Savior”. “I love singing praise songs at church”. “That was a really good message the pastor gave today.” We can say all of these things, but do we really mean them. Is it coming from the heart or the mouth? Do we say these things because we are trying to be good Christians or because they are heartfelt? Would we miss these things if we stopped doing them? If someone today came out and said, “We have definitive proof that there is no God”, would you be disappointed, saddened to tears, heartbroken?

I admit, it is tough. Satan is alive an well all around us and he is quite crafty, the King of Lies, can tempt us beyond imagination, and can fool us when we don’t even know we’ve been fooled.

I say all of this because the first part of this chapter talks about true worship and false worship, and specifically in Biblical times, whether or not the people were truly sacrificing out of a love for God, or if they were just going through the emotions. With alcoholics, they say you can’t cure yourself unless you first admit you have a problem, and it is no different with God. If you have trouble truly loving and worshiping God, it’s not going to get better until you acknowledge and accept that you have a problem. I read about one modern day disciple that said, and I’m paraphrasing, I thought I loved God, but I truly didn’t until I found myself laying on the bathroom floor crying, completely and totally broken.

Verse 15: “For behold, the Lord will come with fire And with His chariots, like a whirlwind”. Here once again I remind you, I don’t believe God will come with fire. I believe His Glory is so bright and so brilliant it is perceived as fire, but it is not. There was light before God created the sun. Moses’ face shone brightly just from being in God’s presence. Nadab and Abihu were “consumed by fire from Heaven”, yet their clothing remained unharmed. Either the brilliant Glory of God is perceived as fire, or there is a definition for the Hebrew word “fire” that doesn’t match what we consider fire to be today.

Verse 16: “For by fire and by His sword The Lord will judge all flesh;
And the slain of the Lord shall be many.” Does it make sense, common sense, that you would strive to go to Heaven and spend eternity with a God that slays sinners? Is that a very loving God? No, and it’s because it’s not true. God is love. God loves you. God doesn’t want to kill anyone, He had the opportunity to kill Lucifer himself and He didn’t. But if we do not prepare ourselves to withstand that brilliant Glory of God, the natural consequence is we will die by it. Not God’s fault, ours!

Verse 18: “For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory.” God is telling us, we will see His Glory! (And we better be prepared for it.)

“Father, I do not believe for one second that You would lead me astray. My desire to learn the truth is strong, and I am confident that You would correct me if I am heading down the wrong path. I see the evidence. You are love, nothing but love. And in order to be able to withstand Your Glory, the same Glory that made Moses’ face shine, the same Glory that the children of Israel could not look upon so Moses had to wear a veil, we have to love You, truly love You. Please keep me close. Protect me from the temptation of Satan. Repair my heart so that I am truly and deeply in love with You, so I am able and worthy of withstand Your Glory when You come. In Jesus Name. Amen.”