Scripture Saturday: Repairers of the Breach

With so much to hope in, with such glory and perfection to look forward to, why stay one minute longer on this wretched planet? If Christ is coming to make all things new, why not run to Him right now? It is a good question, and one that comes to mind more frequently the more we are exposed to the evil and pain in this world. But, the knowledge that Christ will one day right all wrongs and will reign in a perfect Kingdom does more than make us long for that re-creation. It motivates us to work with Him to make that Kingdom more evident on the earth now. As believers, we are invited into the awesome privilege of working with God to show glimpses of His glory and His Kingdom in this broken world. Eternity will resound with justice; we are to pursue justice now. Eternity will abound with mercy; we are to extend mercy now. Eternity will be marked by goodness; we are to demonstrate the goodness of our God in all that we do.

Then your light will break out like the dawn,
And your recovery will speedily spring forth;
And your righteousness will go before you;
The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you remove the yoke from your midst,
The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness,
And if you give yourself to the hungry
And satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
Then your light will rise in darkness
And your gloom will become like midday.
And the LORD will continually guide you,
And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.
Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins;
You will raise up the age-old foundations;
And you will be called the repairer of the breach,
The restorer of the streets in which to dwell. (Isaiah 58:8-12)

Someday the streets will be made of gold. Until then, we are called to bring a glimpse of that gold into the broken streets and rotting alleyways of this world. If we focus only on the filth of these streets, without the hope of those golden ones in our hearts, we will not endure. But knowing that the shining city is coming, we can shine God’s light into the darkest, filthiest places in our own cities.