Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)
It was another small group Sunday yesterday. We heard many churches in the area closed because of the snow on top of freezing rain we got the day before.
But some walked, and some were willing to drive here slowly and carefully. So we met. It was fitting in the wake of the winter storm that our topic of discussion was the great struggle of life. Or, as Pastor Josh's Guatemalan friends call it, la lucha.
Josh used Isaiah 62 to help explain the concept. Like the other great prophets, Isaiah called the people of Israel to account. They had forsaken the Lord and Isaiah was determined to speak out.
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. (verse 1)
Isaiah went on to say there was hope for the people of God. They would be so intimate with the Lord that Isaiah likens the relationship to a marriage. He would rejoice over them as a groom rejoices over his bride.
But then, despite the certainty of hope, the prophet's tone changes to one of urgency. The people of God have an important job to do.
I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth. (verses 6-7)
Isaiah tells his people to take no rest and allow God no rest. To remain watchful. To speak the truth incessantly in the face of lies. To hold God to account to deliver them.
This is the tension we live in. The promise of reconciliation between God and all humanity has come true! Christ has made all who follow him children of God. We are now saved.
Yet, all is clearly not yet as it should be. We still have poverty. Our bodies still suffer. Violence drives people from their homelands across the world. Addiction drives people safety into danger here in Muncie.
All is still broken to our eyes. Still, the prophet calls upon us to keep watch.
You who call on the Lord, do not give up.
Do not stop asking him to make things right.
Do not stop asking him to tear down systems that enrich some and impoverish others.
Do not stop asking him to heal our racial divides.
Do not stop asking him to provide asylum for all who flee violence.
Do not stop asking him to break the cycle of addiction that steals our children away.
"Give him an earful," Josh said. "Don't shut up about it."
Not until la lucha - the struggle - is finally over.