THE MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD

I've been studying and taking my time to read through Isaiah recently, and throughout the beginning of the book a few things have stuck out to me.  The phrase, "Lord your anger lasts a moment, but your favor lasts a lifetime," has popped into my head a lot. Looking through Isaiah its evident that in the latter days God's anger will be poured out...All man will be "humbled and brought low"(2:9), the Lord will "turn his hand against" the unfaithful (1:25), and He will "hide His eyes," from those whose hands are held out (1:15).  But, praise God, in that day "the LORD alone will be exalted"(2:11), and the righteous will prevail in the reigning justice of Christ!  The Lord's favor will last for all eternity on those He's called his own!

Isaiah 2 begins to talk about how the mountain of the Lord will be established.  It says in verse 2 that "all the nations shall flow to it." The universal church, all those called by Christ, will flow to one place!  Verse 3 says that many will come and say:

Come let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, 

To the house of the God of Jacob

That he may teach us his ways 

And that we may walk in his paths.

Out of the mountain of the Lord will flow the LAW, the Gospel, and disputes and war will be no more (2:4)! In the light of the LORD, justice will reign and peace will remain!  What an incredible day and thought it is!

So as I've been thinking about this call of believers, on their way to the mountain of the Lord, I am led to think about right now.  While this time has not come to pass yet, we live in a world that is fitting the descriptions that sets off the Lord's anger seen in Isaiah.  And perhaps the saving grace I have been freely granted is a call to live a life in pursuit of the mountain of the LORD.  While each day gets closer to the LORD establishing his house, in my imperfections I have been granted access to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  As Paul declares, "to live is Christ..." I want to live my life as Christ did...existing to give glory and honor to His Father, taking with Him whomever He could as He approached his call home.

So the thinking in my mind is clear (though it may not sound clear):

As the establishing of the LORDS mountain approaches I can strive to daily:

1. Make much of Christ in my life, until I can do so perfectly, where sin will be no more!

2. Live my life centered on the Gospel, openly and boldly proclaiming its truth to the lost!

3. Live with joyful anticipation of the incredible worship service that will one day take place with the Church of Christ!

So that is what I've been thinking about lately and trying to hash out in my mine.  Hopefully, it gives you hope and excitement for eternity with Jesus, and causes you to pursue that glorious day now!  I have a new song brewing on this subject that I'm excited about, so stay tuned!