A World Where God Is Known
Scripture Reading — Isaiah 11:1-9
The earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. Isaiah 11:9
In the Philippines with its 7,000 islands, the sea is never far away. Many Filipinos make their living from the sea, and many tourists come to experience it from the nation's beautiful shores. For example, it's amazing to see the way a tidal pool changes with the tide. What looks like rock-covered clusters of dark weeds at low tide will become a colorful coral with sea anemones waving in the currents at high tide.
Isaiah likens the Messiah's kingdom to the sea. He says peace will be the order of the day because "the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea."
In the righteous kingdom of God, life is at full tide. Buoyed by currents of the knowledge of the Lord, life will be full and colorful. In that day, no one will need to "teach his neighbor ... saying, ?Know the LORD,' because they will all know me," says God (Jeremiah 31:34). Imagine a world in which everyone knows the riches of God's wisdom and each person has tasted God's grace and understands how to give it.
Isaiah's imagery also suggests something about our mission in a world that is not yet full of God's glory. We who have this knowledge must make God known by our words and actions until the day this glorious vision is realized.
Dear Lord, we have glimpsed your glory. We long to know you more and to see you made known. Reveal yourself through us to our world today. In Jesus' name, Amen.
About the author — Tim Holwerda
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