June 30 The Righteous Perish?

June 30, 2010
Read Isaiah 54 – 59

Isaiah 57:1-2 The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. 2 Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.

“THE righteous perish.” That seems against all God says. It makes you wonder, “Why be right with God if I die doing it?”

In Isaiah’s time, evil kings of Jerusalem persecuted and killed God’s people. Isaiah expressed God’s grief. Yet, Isaiah’s message indicates he looked into the face of God, and he saw beyond the terror of persecution.

In his deep and very right relationship with God, Isaiah knew in his soul the peace the righteous experience, “the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil” as they walk God’s right path. And he trusted in the eternal comfort of the right path leading to a joyful contentment entering into God’s presence in death.

And there’s more. Isaiah’s words points to the Great Comfort, the Righteous One, Jesus Christ, who was killed and for whom “no one” cared at all.

And farther into the future, Isaiah points to the righteous Apostles, who walked in peace, even to their death to rest in peace with their Savior.

There is a deep comfort in trusting God through the temporary turmoil, even persecution, in this life into eternal life. Whatever your struggles, walk with God. He promises a wonderful rest as you reside in God’s presence forever.

Rejoice! Be glad! What a gift!