Waiting for Hope (Isaiah 2:1-5)

The stress of life distracts us from the hope we hold to.

• The beginning of the holiday season: long lines, lots of people, family get-togethers, stress and busyness
  
• It remind us of the imperfections we live with and the perfection we yearn for
  
  • A simpler time
    
  • Less stress and conflict
    
  • Better relationships
    
• Distractions and loss of hope lead us to different ways of meeting our needs
  
  • Self-help books
    
  • Alcohol or food
    
  • Shopping
    
• But we have the answer right in front of us--Jesus, the gospel--and that will be the only thing that saves us and gives us peace!
  

In Isaiah (2:1-5), God presents a vision of a peaceful future where all nations will come to him and justice will be available to all.

• In the future, God’s temple will be established and all nations will stream to God
  
• This is symbolic of God’s victory and reign over all things
  
• This future is characterized by three things
  
  • God will teach the people so that they know how to walk in his path -- walking is a metaphor for a close relationship with God that lives his commands with understanding
    
  • The word of God will be established at the center (Jerusalem) and will go out to all nations from there -- God’s word is the foundation of our life in Christ
    
  • All nations will come to God and there will be peace on earth -- evangelism is the direct result of godly living
    
• Therefore, Israel is exhorted to walk in God’s light, to be the source of God’s light, and not to be left behind in the darkness when all nations do come to God’s temple
  

For us, God’s temple has already been established--in Jesus--and we are his body, his temple--so are we living in his light and shining it into dark places, or are we being consumed by the darkness in our world?

• If we are the firstfruits of this reorganized world, the body of Christ, the temple of the Lord, let us not be consumed by broken relationships, stress, fear and doubt. Instead, as Paul says, let us
  
  • Wake up from our slumber and live honorably -- salvation is nearer every day
    
  • Lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light -- let us think about how we are living light in the darkness around us
    
  • Clothe ourselves with Christ in close fellowship with him, becoming more like him -- holding to the gospel and being transformed
    
  • And let us live in the light of God’s promised future