Go Up

Read Isaiah 1:27-21, 2:1-5, 5:24-30, 3:1-8, 4:2-5
 
Isaiah 2:2-4 In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all – the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship. 3 People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem. 4 The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore.
 
TODAY’S Scripture readings summarize the range of Isaiah’s prophecies. They speak of the immediate, near, distant and eternal future. The focus passage points to the eternal future. God’s judgment will precede his glorious salvation at the time’s end.
   One of the reoccurring images in Scripture is going up to God on a mountain. This begins with Noah’s ark landing on Mt. Ararat at the flood’s end. Then Genesis 11 describes humanity desiring to build a tower up to God. Abraham is directed up Mt. Moriah to sacrifice Isaac to test his faith. Moses meets God on the mountain to receive the law. Then the Jerusalem temple is on the same mount Abraham took his son. The Psalms of Ascents are going up step-by-step to worship God on his temple mount in Jerusalem. Jesus dies on the mount of Golgotha. The dead will rise up to meet the Lord in the air. In the last days, the new Jerusalem will come down from heaven. And here Isaiah speaks, “The LORD’s house will be the highest of all.”
   As we read in Joel’s prophecy, Isaiah referred to “the last days” This is God’s rule coming to all his church in the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21). Some say this could also point to the current age of the church as we have total access to ascend to God and worship him through the Son and the Spirit.
   Going up to God with our daily worship puts us in God’s presence. What joy to know the world will live this way one day. And this also demonstrates what our lives, communities and nations can be today. When people go up to God together, they will come to know his law, justice, grace and forgiveness. Ascending to the Lord will raise our minds to learn how to love one another. How wonderful that would be.
   The world is full of pain because we look down on our own desires. We do not look up to see God’s good pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2c) for our everyday and eternal lives.
   Listening to the world, it is clear we need rest from life’s distresses. The best place to be distress-free is to know God is on his throne. Believe he has come down in love to raise you up to him. Go ahead. Get up each day and go up the mountain of God to his holy hill, his throne room of grace. Be in a solid, Bible-teaching church. Have a quiet, meditative and prayer time with your Holy Bible. Enjoy a conversation with a godly friend and a Jesus-loving pastor. Even more, as you confess “Jesus is Lord.” take a moment to savor he is with you. The Holy Spirit is within you. Yes, he is. He’s right there to raise you up to enjoy a life-giving, love-building, peace-making relationship with the Lord God Almighty right now.
 
Pause and Consider: a picture of God with his arms wide open waiting for you to come to him: Be strengthened in his love.