Sunday School Lesson for Jan. 16, 2011: Reassurance for God's People (Isaiah 48:12-22)

Romans 10:14
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?



2 Corinthians 6:17
Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate”, says the Lord.



1 Peter 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:



John 12:25
Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.



Isaiah 48:20
Leave Babylon, flee from the Babylonians! Announce this with shouts of joy and proclaim it. Send it out to the ends of the earth; say, “The LORD has redeemed his servant Jacob.”







There is no greater admonition for the believer than the admonition from the verse above. Flee Babylon! Flee the world! Flee worldly lusts, eschew the temptations that come your way. Pay attention though, to the part of the verse that exhorts us to announce or proclaim this warning with ‘shouts of joy’. What! How do these two things go together? A warning? Shouted or proclaimed with joy? A paradox of the Gospel for sure. But I get it. You see, The Proclaimer knows what it’s like on the other side. He’s been to the mountaintop. He’s seen the promise. He doesn’t want you to miss out, to live below your privileges. As Christians, we have the unique perspective of living in two worlds concurrently: the temporal and the spiritual. God wants to bless our temporal from the spiritual, but we have to have a heart and mind for Him and Him alone. He wants us to leave Sodom and not look back. Leave Egypt. Leave Babylon. Let it go.

When we let it go, really let the world go and seek the Rest that God has for us, Peace that is greater than our ability to comprehend will be the result. Peace in the face of the many challenges we face day to day, Peace like a river. Joy unspeakable and full of Glory! Heaven on Earth. And not in small measures. He’ll give you Peace and Joy, Love and Patience, Gentleness, Faithfulness and Compassion pressed down, shaken together and running over. Run from Babylon beloved. God’s got something special waiting on you on the other side. You ain’t seen nothing yet! Go git yo hat and come on!



Blessings,



.wb