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Day 203, or July 22nd.

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Until He Comes.

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Our thoughts today are rooted in Isaiah 35, verse 4.

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Be strong, do not fear.

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Your God will come.

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He will come with vengeance.

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With divine retribution He will come to save you.

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And now the big picture surrounding this verse.

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When Isaiah uttered these words, he was speaking to the people of God who were being intimidated

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by the two most powerful superpowers the Middle East had seen up to that time.

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Both of them lived to the east of Israel in the land called Mesopotamia, or Iraq of today.

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Assyria, who had scattered the northern tribes, and Babylonia, who would eventually triumph

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over the southern tribes, where Isaiah had ministered faithfully for the whole of his

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life.

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These words of triumph were well timed and totally refreshing to all who were trusting

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God.

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Isaiah reminds the people that their God is more powerful than any enemy, and He is coming

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to save His people, so don't be concerned.

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He will send Messiah soon, and He will triumph greatly.

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Now today's action step.

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If we could but grasp this verse, many of the uncertainties of modern life would fade.

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It promises people in the days of Isaiah that their God would come bringing victory and

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justice.

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Centuries later He did, in Jesus.

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The Bible also clearly teaches that Jesus will return.

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Every year we have two big reminders of Jesus' second coming, Easter and Christmas.

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I wonder if that is why Easter is becoming known as chocolate egg season, with Christmas

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being demoted to winter festival.

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These titles remove all links to Jesus and take away a timely reminder that even if we

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are looking the other way or burying our head in the sand, Jesus will still return to earth

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in victory.

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Whenever you celebrate communion or the Eucharist in your church, dwell on these words from

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1 Corinthians chapter 11 verse 26.

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For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord's death

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until He comes again.

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We don't know when, but we do know for certain.