Isaiah Chapter 60 gives Believers a beautiful picture of salvation, eternity, and New Jerusalem. Christ Followers do not look like the world, we look like Jesus. Jesus is our Light. He reflects or glorifies the exact image of The Father and we reflect or glorify Jesus’ image. As Jesus shines a light into the darkness of the world, so do we. We do not dim the light so we don’t trouble the people in the dark. We shine brightly so they may see the way to liberation. Verses 1-3 read,
“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
3 And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.”
People will come to Jesus if we are glorifying Him by loving the way He loves, by being the holy people we are called to be. All we have to do is be who He is transforming us to be. He does the work of calling people and saving them. We have the responsibility of living the life He has created us to live.
When Jesus returns and establishes New Jerusalem, it will be magnificent. Jesus will be right there with us. There will be no fear, no hunger, no unmet needs, and no sickness. There will be Brothers and Sisters from all over the earth united in love. All we suffered on earth will be recompensed. We will be comforted where once we were tormented and hurt. Jesus will be honored, worshipped, and praised where once we suffered hate and humiliation for following Him in this life. The enemy, his minions, and followers will all be destroyed.
No longer will we be presided over by our flesh. No longer will we be ruled by an earthly government. We will be completed and perfected. Our sin nature will be gone and in its place will be perfect love. There will be no need of kings, laws, presidents, or judges. Verses 17-18 put it this way,
“Instead of bronze I will bring gold,
and instead of iron I will bring silver;
instead of wood, bronze,
instead of stones, iron.
I will make your overseers peace
and your taskmasters righteousness.
18 Violence shall no more be heard in your land,
devastation or destruction within your borders;
you shall call your walls Salvation,
and your gates Praise.”
Do you know how wonderful it will be? Jesus will be there with us. His light is so perfect and so absolute we will not need the sun or moon to provide light for us anymore. Verse 19-20 read,
“The sun shall be no more
your light by day,
nor for brightness shall the moon
give you light;
but the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.
20 Your sun shall no more go down,
nor your moon withdraw itself;
for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your days of mourning shall be ended.”
Nothing can and nothing will take salvation away from us. God will be glorified forever. Verses 21-22 read,
“Your people shall all be righteous;
they shall possess the land forever,
the branch of my planting, the work of my hands,
that I might be glorified.
22 The least one shall become a clan,
and the smallest one a mighty nation;
I am the Lord;
in its time I will hasten it..”
We do not have to wait for eternity to taste this. Salvation is now. The Lord is glorified at this time. And we are transformed now. While perfection and completion will happen one day soon, salvation begins at the moment. Fellow Believers, we are the light of the world! We enjoy God’s comfort and counsel now. We know His joy and love today. Be the light of Jesus and shine in the darkness. Be the one that becomes a nation.