I came of age during the tumultuous sixties and seventies. Amidst a very unpopular war, peace and protest songs found voice. One in particular stated, "Now I've been happy lately Thinking about the good things to come And I believe it could be ..."
Eventually, the unpopular war ended, the peace movement diminished, and such songs faded into history. And yet, these lyrics reflect something greater. There are "good things to come"; in fact, GREAT things to come.
"On that day the deaf will hear words of a book, And out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. The afflicted also will increase their gladness in the LORD, And the needy of mankind will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 29.18-19)
There is a peace movement underway, and it's more than just a response to a particular war. It is God's ultimate answer to all things wrong and broken. And, it's already begun for "the deaf" who hear His words of life, and for the "blind" who see His truth. Those who are afflicted (that's pretty much all of us!) find increased gladness in the LORD that defies our human condition.
The world of Isaiah the prophet in the eighth century B.C. was a far cry from the world of today. But, the timeless message of coming kingdom hope resonates with us today as it did with the people of his day. And, when understood in the true light of God's coming kingdom, yesterday's peace songs offer hope as well: "I've been happy lately Thinking about the good things to come".
Kingdom hope and expectation isn't cause for inactivity and irresponsibility, but rather the source of confident optimism amidst even our most challenging times. Nothing and no one are irreparably broken from the perspective of the coming age of restoration (Acts 3.21).
Lets be up and about this good news. One of the greatest ways to truly believe it is to share it. Remind your brothers and sisters in Christ of its central importance and reality. Share it with those who are badly broken in this present evil age. Look up and look forward. The kingdom is partially here, and it is fully coming. Live in it today as you look for it to come in fullness. What will your life look like today if you believe it passionately?
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2012
Eventually, the unpopular war ended, the peace movement diminished, and such songs faded into history. And yet, these lyrics reflect something greater. There are "good things to come"; in fact, GREAT things to come.
"On that day the deaf will hear words of a book, And out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. The afflicted also will increase their gladness in the LORD, And the needy of mankind will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 29.18-19)
There is a peace movement underway, and it's more than just a response to a particular war. It is God's ultimate answer to all things wrong and broken. And, it's already begun for "the deaf" who hear His words of life, and for the "blind" who see His truth. Those who are afflicted (that's pretty much all of us!) find increased gladness in the LORD that defies our human condition.
The world of Isaiah the prophet in the eighth century B.C. was a far cry from the world of today. But, the timeless message of coming kingdom hope resonates with us today as it did with the people of his day. And, when understood in the true light of God's coming kingdom, yesterday's peace songs offer hope as well: "I've been happy lately Thinking about the good things to come".
Kingdom hope and expectation isn't cause for inactivity and irresponsibility, but rather the source of confident optimism amidst even our most challenging times. Nothing and no one are irreparably broken from the perspective of the coming age of restoration (Acts 3.21).
Lets be up and about this good news. One of the greatest ways to truly believe it is to share it. Remind your brothers and sisters in Christ of its central importance and reality. Share it with those who are badly broken in this present evil age. Look up and look forward. The kingdom is partially here, and it is fully coming. Live in it today as you look for it to come in fullness. What will your life look like today if you believe it passionately?
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2012
posted by steve @ 9:18 AM
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