A Promise (6)

You will go out in joy

      and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

      will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

      will clap their hands.

Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,

      and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.

This will be for the LORD’s renown,

      for an everlasting sign,

      that will endure forever.

Isaiah 55 ends with a promise. In our broken world it seems foolish to think of long ago promises for peace. Are we any closer today than 2500 years ago? Optimistically I look for evidence that, yes, we’ve made some progress—so many advances in health and diplomacy. But when I turn around I see so many dark signs: vast areas of the world still limit women and girls to second class status, sometimes with awful rituals—and these attitudes spill over into our own region. War and violence threaten around the world. Prison systems unjustly tear apart the souls of men and women.

But we’ve just celebrated American Thanksgiving. While it’s foolish to ignore the many injustices and negative influences—because we have to keep working to remove them, it is better to focus on and practice a positive forward looking trajectory of life. That’s why I value my faith in God and why the Bible’s message inspires me toward hope rather than despair. It motivates me to live in joy and peace, and to see the side of creation that explodes with life and beauty. He has given us an everlasting sign when Jesus was born, that will endure forever.