7 December 2014 - days of future present

The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard "delay,"

But as we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells it sometimes feels like a delay. This old earth feels especially old some days. It is the same old sad story. People preach repentance but hearts do not change. As we wait for the mightier one who baptizers with the Holy Spirit it can feel a lot like delay.

Patience and delay are very different. He is patient because he loves us, because he does not want anyone to perish. Delay might mean indifference. It might mean that he has better things to do. It is not that sort of delay.

With this perspective the LORD teaches us how to wait. This morning he wants to show us the right attitude to regard this time before the promise is fully fulfilled. This attitude can be summarized in the word comfort.

Comfort, give comfort to my people,
says your God.

We can have comfort even as we wait because we know the promise that lies on the far side of the waiting. The patriarchs of the Old Testament "saw it and greeted it from afar" (cf.Heb. 11:13) but we can see it approaching with even greater clarity. Let's use the eyes of our minds and hearts now and see:

Here is your God!
Here comes with power
the Lord GOD,
who rules by his strong arm;
here is his reward with him,
his recompense before him.

We need to speak comfort into this space of waiting.

Comfort, give comfort to my people,
says your God.

The promise is real and the time of its fulfillment is drawing near. "The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed" (cf. Rom 13:11). The promise is that all wrongs are finally set right. Righteousness finally dwells on earth where now everything is tainted with depravity.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (cf. Rev. 21:4).

Can we see this vision? This promise? This hope? "Comfort", says the LORD! 

Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.

If we fear him we draw nearer to the fulfillment of his salvation through our hope in him. Fear acknowledges both his power to keep his promise and his absolute steadfast fidelity to his plans. When we hope in this we we join those who rise from waiting unto "hastening the coming of the day of God". We pull the future into the present by our hope.

This is why we need to hear and proclaim comfort. This proclamation lies at the foundation of our hope. It raises us from the valleys of despair and draws us down from the mountains of our pride. It makes straight the path for the messiah. It is our hope that cries out, "Maranatha". Jesus says, "Yes, I am coming soon" and in this hope we respond "Amen, Come Lord Jesus" (cf. Rev. 22:20). Come mighty one! Come gather your lambs and lead us with care. Come with the baptism of the Holy Spirit! Come with righteousness, with justice and peace!