March 29 - Joy of the Redeemed

March 29 - Joy of the Redeemed - Isaiah 35:1-10

This chapter is filled with joy. I want to start with the last verses first today.

"The Way of Holiness." The redeemed and ransomed of the Lord will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them. (Isaiah 35:10)

We all know the Yellow Brick Road and I'm certain that we can bring up the picture in our minds of Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and the Lion arm in arm as they walk down the beautiful road together.

Now, think a little bit longer, but imagine this beautiful Way of Holiness leading to the City of God! You are dancing on this road with your friends and others who have come out of the worst parts of their lives. They have been redeemed from blackness and darkness. The joy and relief of being clean brings exuberance! There are no more fears ... Isaiah says that lions and ferocious beasts can't get on to this road, the unclean won't be on it, wicked fools will not be on the Way of Holiness. Sorrow and sighing will flee away ... You are on this road! (Isaiah 35:8-10)

The deserts and wilderness will bloom forth. The greatest glories of the land of Lebanon, Carmel and Sharon will be more than ever seen before. The Lord is coming! (Isaiah 35:1-2)

Isaiah reminds the people in Jerusalem to have faith and he reminds us to do the same. Care for those that have grown feeble, steady the weakened, encourage the frightened. These people that have remained in Jerusalem while the Assyrians destroyed Judah outside their walls were exhausted and weary from waiting. But, it was nearly over! (Isaiah 35:3-4)

When the Lord comes, everything will change! Blind and deaf, lame and dumb will be made whole. Streams will flow in the desert bringing life to once dead land ... and once dead hearts.

In our overabundance, we think that we have it all. We accept material things and the meeting of human desires as ways to fill our hearts and bring us hope. We don't even know what it means to desire relief from darkness and freedom from the ties that bind us here on earth. We can't imagine the extravagance of grace that God has prepared for us.

God calls us to throw off our fears and worries - release humanity's ties. We are called to be filled with Him and to walk with Him, absorbing all the goodness and light that He can pour into us. We are redeemed! The ransom has been paid.

Prepare the Way of the Lord! Prepare to walk the Way of Holiness! Make straight the highway for our Lord.