Isaiah 35:10: “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, / And come to Zion with singing, / With everlasting joy on their heads. / They shall obtain joy and gladness, / And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

August 29th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Isaiah was describing both the Jews return from Babylonian captivity, as well as their ultimate return from the worldwide scattering, before the millennial reign of Jesus the Messiah. In both cases, “the ransomed of the LORD shall return.” We alive today can see this prophecy beginning to be fulfilled as Israel continues to accept more and more Hebrew immigrants from around the world. How fascinating and strange that many still do not see this as evidence of God’s faithfulness to His Word. But when we consider the Old-Testament prophecies that were fulfilled at Jesus’ first coming, and the many religious, 1st-century people who refused to believe, we should not be surprised at all. But the question remains for each person as they carefully study and consider God’s Word: “What do you believe?”

Dr. Joseph Stowell, President of Moody Bible Institute, liked to share about a visit he made to a home for mentally handicapped children. While walking through the corridors, he noticed that the windows were covered with tiny handprints. He asked the director about them, and the director explained, “The children here love Jesus, and they’re so eager for Him to return that they lean against the windows as they look up to the sky.” That is exactly where we should be when facing storms and difficulties in life, leaning against the window, looking up to the sky. When we remind ourselves Jesus is coming back, we will be encouraged and strengthened. And it then becomes simple, when we see others struggling, to remind them of this simple but comforting fact: “Jesus is coming soon.”

“LORD, we do pray, come quickly.”