December 11
The Glory of the Lord Will Bring Transformation
The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. Isaiah 35:1-2
Where is this desert and parched land? If I visit the Dead Sea, will I see it on the southern shore?
Not likely. The desert is my heart. “All have sinned,” the apostle postulates, “and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Ever since Satan slithered into Eden’s scene, and Adam and Eve succumbed to his seduction, I find myself under God’s ineluctable judgment: Cursed! My darkened heart and its every urge are evil from the get-go. My moribund mind and its depraved dalliances are at odds with my Creator.
Yet the compassionate and gracious Lord, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love (Exodus 34:6-7), doesn’t condemn me. Through his spotless body-double life and substitutionary God-satisfying death, Jesus exited his tomb, declaring me forgiven, God’s child, justified freely by his grace (Romans 3:24), an heir of heaven and recipient of the glory of God.
God didn’t send Jesus to condemn the world but to save the world through him (John 3:17). He made him who had no sin to be sin for me, so that in Jesus, I might become the righteousness [splendor, glory] of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).
That’s news to sing about and rejoice over. Still, I desire to dawdle in the desert, don’t I? Sashaying, even sprinting toward my secret sins, I scarcely give thought to what my salvation cost my Savior. For my sake Jesus became poor, so that I through his poverty might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).
Daily I need to drink the Bible message of full forgiveness and peace with God through Jesus Messiah as I read his Word and meditate on his goodness to me. The Word alone drags me from my desert of depravity back to the glory of God. Jesus’ gospel working on my heart brings him glory, gets my mind right, and makes me want others to blossom, burst into bloom, and rejoice with me.
O Spring of Joy, rain down upon our spirits;
Our thirsty hearts are yearning for your Word.
Come, make us whole, be comfort to our hearts.
For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits.
Truly my hope is in you. Amen. (CW 325:2)
Professor Alan Uher serves Martin Luther College as a field supervisor of teacher candidates.
