Isaiah 51:7-8 “Hear me, you who know what is right,
you people who have my law in your hearts:
Do not fear the reproach of men
or be terrified by their insults.
For the moth will eat them up like a garment;
the worm will devour them like wool.
But my righteousness will last for ever,
my salvation through all generations.”

The NIV, by saying “what is right” in verse seven and then “my righteousness” in verse eight, blurs the fact that these are exactly the same thing. We all desire stability in the middle of a changing world, and God is saying, “You want stability? You’ve got it in my righteousness, my salvation.” There will always be those who rebel against God, and they will always be antagonistic toward those who are obedient to Him, however illogical that might be. Many Americans are just waking up to that fact, though it’s been true all along. Here the Lord is saying that such rebellious people are like untreated wool clothing. It might look fine initially, but in no time it is moth-eaten and worthless. The key then becomes knowing God’s righteousness, and that comes by reading the Bible with faith. There are countless stories of saints who have been supported by a Word of Scripture in a tough moment. We’ve all had such experiences. The rate of change in the world today is so high that it’s causing a dramatic rise in mental illness, from people being unable to handle so much change. When we find our stability in God and His Word, then we can weather all the storms of change, even when they seem like a continuous hurricane, punctuated by tornadoes! There’s a reason that the Bible speaks many times of God being our “Rock.” We need to remember the old hymn that says, “On Christ the solid Rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.”

To be honest, my tolerance for change has dropped as I have gotten older. That’s a major factor in the nostalgia relished by so many senior adults. However, the deeper I’ve sunk my roots into the Rock of Ages, the less the change really shakes me. I see changes in the future that I don’t relish, but I know that the God who has brought me this far will carry me through to His good end. As I see the end of all things approaching I am to be active in each task my Lord sets for me, most particularly giving as many people as possible the opportunity to repent and believe for their salvation. I am not to be stingy with the knowledge of God’s righteousness! I am to be His agent, His representative, (2 Corinthians 5:20) drawing people to Him while there is time, for His pleasure and glory.

Father, thank You for the photo show that starts today. Thank You for enabling us to get it almost completely set up yesterday, and that so little remains to be done this morning. I pray that we would have good attendance over this coming week, but more than that, I pray that each person who comes would be touched by the realization that You indeed created this world we live in, and You love them. I ask for appointments with many people to share Christ more directly, and I ask You to give them faith and courage to believe and commit themselves to Christ. May this be a week not only of sowing but of harvest, for the salvation of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!