THE EARNEST EXPECTATION
Psalm 19 tells us that the Heavens declare the glory of God!
Stand in the middle of a meadow on a hot summer day, or under the stars in an open field on a dark winter night, or stroll down a back road on a fall evening as the full moon rises in the East, or spend a rainy spring morning on a busy city street. God’s glory is always there…
And yet, there is something more. In the hum, in the chirping, even in the quiet, there is a groaning. Romans 8 tells us that the creation itself is actually groaning in anticipation of God revealing His sons and daughters. And when that happens the trees of the fields will clap their hands! (Isaiah 55) Can you imagine this? And yet it is actually happening all around us… the groaning.
And there is praising. Continual praise is being lifted up by every creature and every plant that we pass by, or trample underfoot, or stop to admire. And mankind not only joins in with creation’s chorus, but as the ones given dominion over all of creation, we are to be the Conductors! Not merely participants, nor mere observers, but the bandleaders!
⇒ PRAISING SURROUNDS US
And what if mankind was busy conducting creation in the praise of God, rather than seeking our own gain or judging our neighbor? Love would richly abound; God’s sons and daughters would be revealed. (John 13:34-35)
⇒ YOUR LOVE IS
The earth is a reflection of heaven. A shadow. Here true worship is waiting to be unleashed. In heaven it has already been perfected. In Revelation 5 we are given a glimpse. A tiny sample of what we are headed towards as God’s children and saints.
⇒ POWER AND RICHES
Man is without excuse. The heavens declare God’s glory (Psalm 19), God is clearly perceived by all of His creation (Romans 1), the whole of creation groans in anticipation (Romans 8), one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2), and Psalms like number 66 give us clear instruction as to how and why God is to be worshiped – by all.
⇒ GREAT AND MARVELOUS
In the Bible, after creation water is seen next in judgment (Genesis 6). But after the flood, God promises that He will never destroy mankind with water again (the rainbow being the sign of this promise (Genesis 9)). Water then becomes an agent or symbol of God’s word being poured out on the world, as in Isaiah 55. Cleansing and causing new growth.
⇒ THE LATTER RAIN
Isaiah 55 has it all: God’s call to men, regardless of their social status. The promise of a Savior, the Messiah, according to God’s plan. God’s call to man to repent regardless of his or her degree of sinfulness. The declaration of the power of God’s Word, and of God Himself. Examples of how God correlates important lessons about Himself to natural things in our world for our better understanding. The groaning of creation and rejoicing that is to come. And God’s sovereignty… And God’s eternalness… And God’s promises to those who seek Him and follow Him with willing hearts.
⇒ THE ISAIAH 55 SUITE
Without the latter rain, the first rain cannot be the former.
⇒ THE FORMER RAIN
As we come to understand Romans 8 and Isaiah 55, we come to a place of desire that Christ would return and set off the ultimate rejoicing of all creation. Desiring to be found worthy and to be called by God, son or daughter, we join in with the cry of Ezekiel.
⇒ SHOWERS OF BLESSING
Christ’s death on the cross paid the ultimate price for our wayward souls. However, it is His resurrection which reveals the power of God (Romans 1). Just as so many of the natural things of creation die and are reborn to new life, season after season, year after year, the truth of Christ’s life has continually renewed and transformed men for nearly 2,000 years. This is…
⇒ THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION
As new creations in Christ, we seek to walk in new ways. Recognizing that the old man has died and that the seed has pushed up through the ground with new life (John 12:24), with this new life comes the knowledge of being different than those who are still dead in their sin and trespasses.
The spirit of Christ leads us to walk differently than we once did, recognizing that the church as a whole is our frame of reference now, our army to fall in step with, according to the beating of Christ’s drum, so to speak, as the conductors of creation’s worship, leading in the worship of the one true God.
⇒ SET US APART
There is nothing more important in this life than rightly fearing the one who designed and created it all. The one who literally holds it all together (Colossians 1). The one who has explained it to us. The one who holds the power of life and death. The one who is returning soon to restore and complete… and to start anew. The one for whom creation groans! The one who sent His Son to die, and revealed His power by raising Him from the grave. Hallelujah.
⇒ THE CONCLUSION OF THE MATTER