By Will Heydel
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10, Isaiah 36:1-22, Zephaniah 3:14-20, 2 Corinthians 7:9-12
Have you ever lost something so precious to you that if you found it, you would “leap for joy?” Perhaps it was a childhood toy, a family heirloom, or a cherished photo. The feeling of joy and relief from finding what was lost is a glimpse of the joy that awaits us in eternity, our future home.
Throughout the history of God’s nation, they had to endure heart-wrenching loss. This time, it wasn’t just about personal possessions—it was about their very homeland. They weren’t simply misplacing things; they were forcibly uprooted, displaced from what had been promised to them. In the ancient Near East, exiling people from their homeland had the effect of dampening and damaging their identity and joy as a people. Can you imagine what that felt like? It would undoubtedly cause deep sorrow in a person’s heart.
As Isaiah prophesied of a future exile and return for the people of Judah, he uttered these hopeful words: “…and the ransomed of the LORD will return and come to Zion with singing, crowned with unending joy. Joy and gladness will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee” (Isaiah 35:10). The people of Israel were notorious for forgetting and forsaking God, turning to worthless idols, and seeking life apart from Him. And at this point in their history, an approaching exile was the consequence.
Sin leads to our spiritual displacement. James discusses this when he says, “Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death” (James 1:15). Again, sin leads to death or separation.
You might feel separated from God because of your sin. What might it look like for you to return home? As followers of Jesus, we have been given a new identity; we are citizens of a heavenly kingdom to come, and this earth isn’t our forever home. Knowing this, when we are tempted to step outside God’s provision, we find that what has already been provided to us in Christ—grace—is sufficient! In God’s kindness and grace we are moved to grieve our attempt to look for life apart from Him, confess our sins, and turn back to Him (2Corinthians 7:9–10). It is in this vulnerable yet safe space that our sorrow is replaced with joy.
Written by Will Heydel
Post Comments (0)