Eyes Upward

“That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.” (Isa 65:16 AV)

I wonder what we would do if God took all our troubles away.  Not only are they taken away.  They are forgotten.  Perhaps this is another promise to a reclaimed Israel.  Perhaps the prophet is pointing to a time when Israel will be restored and all their enemies will be defeated.  Then they will turn to the LORD for blessings and vows.  There will be no other concerns of life.  Their attention will be focused solely on the Messiah, who will reign over them is righteousness and truth.  The N.T. saint has a similar promise and a similar response.  Our troubles will cease and be forever forgotten when we graduate to glory.  None of what troubles us today will ever be remembered in the light of God’s glory.  We have heartaches, we have anxieties, we have troubles of mind and soul.  But a million years from now, who will remember?  Therefore, if we are to be blessed in this life, let it be from the God of truth.  If we are going to set goals and seek purpose of life, let it be for the glory of God.

Thinking about this verse, one cannot help but be moved with the convicting truth that we should not wait until glory for this promise to be a reality.  Paul states it this way. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Col 3:1-2 AV) As far as our former troubles, being lost is sin is far worse than any normal trouble we might experience.  We are not promised a perfect temporal existence.  Perfection doesn’t come until eternity.  There will always be sorrow, sickness, and death.  Our bodies will age.  Our families will drift apart.  Our homes will breakdown, the car will quit, there will be crime in the neighborhood, and political unrest throughout the world.  Our world is not rainbows and unicorns.  As long as sin is a part of it, there will be trouble.  It is naïve to think we can have a perfect life.  That was never part of the deal.  What we can do is focus our attention on that which is perfect.

Isaiah gives us a clue.  If our eyes are on the God of truth, then the troubles we may experience can be endured.  The trials can become something by which we mature.  God can and does become more real.  Faith can and does grow.  As we navigate the hard times of life, if our eyes are pointed above, then the troubles can remain in the past.  They can be forgotten.  Isaiah points to the presence of the Messiah, who will reign before the eyes of Israel.  God with us will be with them.  They will see Him.  They will speak to Him face to face.  Their temporal life will be governed by the Son of God, who will rule with a rod of iron.  But we do not have to wait for this.  Jew and Gentile alike can accept Jesus as Savior, point their mind's eye heavenward, and have a life of blessings and purpose.  Trouble will be there.  But trouble will have profit attached.  May our eyes be heavenward!