Is Failure Final in the Bible?

Over the last few months I have often wondered if things will ever be the same.   On some good days, I see glimmers of hope – that somehow God will continue to remake – renew me into something that He can use for His glory.   On other days, I see people who I dearly love and have respected refuse to have anything to do with me, treat me as a pariah, seemingly erasing me from their very existence.   And God that hurts.

Every person God used in the Bible failed Him at some point.  Abraham lied, David committed adultery, Solomon strayed from his faith, Moses murdered a man, Peter deserted Jesus, Paul persecuted the church and the list could go on. 

Each man failed God – sinned – and that sin brought for death and destruction (John 10:10) – it always does.  But in each case God didn’t give up on them.  While God forgives, He does not remove the consequences for that sin.  In some cases those men in the list paid an incredible price in consequences for their sin – but God didn’t abandon them.  

Paul writes to the Church in Corinth that we are being “transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord.”  2 Corinthians 3:18.  That word “transformed” comes from the Greek Word metamorphoo which we get the word metamorphosis from.  You know that word from your biology class – it is the process by which a caterpillar changes into a cocoon then into a butterfly.   A process that is slow, ugly, filled with struggles but ends up producing something of beauty.

Although many verses talk about something similar in Salvation – “old things pass away, behold all things become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17) that isn’t what Paul is referring to in 2 Corinthians 3:18.  He is talking about how God is transforming us into His image after we have come to follow Him.   It is a lifelong process.  A slow, ugly, filled with struggles but ends up producing something of beauty kind of life long process.

When I look at Scripture – what God has to say, I gain hope.  Listen to these verses.

Psalm 42:5 (NLT)  Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior.

Psalm 25:4-5 (NLT)  Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow.  Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.

Proverbs 20:24 (NLT)  The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?

Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT)  For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Isaiah 42:16 (NLT)  I will lead blind Israel down a new path, guiding them along an unfamiliar way. I will brighten the darkness before them and smooth out the road ahead of them. Yes, I will indeed do these things; I will not forsake them.

Isaiah 58:8 (NLT)  “Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind.

It is so hard to fully believe that God will do these things in my life.   I know that sounds terrible for someone who has preached 35 years to say that … but it is true.  But if I don’t believe Him – what do I have left?  If I look to people, some have responded with honesty, love and graciousness – and for those I will be eternally grateful.  Others – people who claim to know Jesus – have responded in a very different manner.

I guess we have disappointed each other.  But I have found that I cannot look to them for comfort, forgiveness, or hope.   If I am to find those things, I must find them in Him.   I have learned many things in the last few months – amongst them – If I look to anyone or anything other than God for comfort, forgiveness or hope I will ultimately be disappointed.  Looking to men – even godly men – for something that God can only give will always leave one disillusioned or disappointed.   And I have done both.

Right now is a painful part of the “transformation” – the metamorphosis of an sinful follower of Jesus into the Image of God.   It hurts.  It is terrifying.  It is painful.   But – I am hopeful.  I am trying to be confident that “He who began this good work in me will continue it for His glory.”  Philippians 1:6

 

Life in the Desert - Where is Your Hope?

Life in the Desert

Isaiah 35:1-4 (NIV)  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.  Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way;  say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you."

In Isaiah 34, Isaiah has pronounced judgment on Israel from God.  It is terrifying.  It is total.  It is complete.   Israel’s unfaithfulness to God has not gone unnoticed.   Now after repeated warnings, God is telling them what will happen.

But there is something interesting about judgment from God.   Whether it is for a nation or for one of His Children – through the judgment comes, there is always opportunity for repentance and restoration.  And that is what Isaiah 35 is about – Renewal; Restoration; Redemption; Hope.

Acknowledgement of Barren Times in Life

Why were they experiencing this barren time?   Israel had rebelled – God had judged them – repentance would come – after repentance came hope and then restoration.  Restoration can only come after repentance – a returning to God.

Proverbs 28:13 (NIV)  He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

The people found themselves in the desert, in the wasteland and in the wilderness because of their choices.  Their actions.  They had forgone God’s Blessing by chasing cheap imitations of what God was and what He offered.   And now, they suffered the consequences of their sin.

Isaiah 35:1b 0(NIV)  . Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;

Why the crocus flower?  In most places the crocus flower starts blooming in spring.  However in Middle East – Israel – it blooms in the dead of winter.  “Small colorful splashes where life seems unlikely.”

The Contrast of Judgment and God’s Blessing

Wilderness – an open place where cattle are driven. – Once provided, but now no longer can.

Wasteland – barren, land of drought – Empty, desolate

Desert –A sterility – inability to give life.

with

Mountains of Lebanon – Mountains famous for excellent cedars – Majesty

Mount Carmel – Woody mountain – Beauty

Plain of Sharon – pleasant place of Pasture – Fertility

Display His Glory – the Splendor – His Power.  When God does this, people will give glory to God – not themselves or others.  The focus or attention will be on Him.  God will do this, not us.

What Do We Do With This Message?

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

What God has given you – you are to give to others.  We are to share this message of hope with others.

What we do:  Strengthen (the power to grasp and hold on); Encourage and Say

To Whom:  Those with tired hands; weak knees and fearful hearts.

Hebrews 12:12-13 (NIV)  Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.  "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

What Message are we to Speak?  What Encouragement?  

Where to look for Hope, Deliverance and Restoration.

Isaiah 35:4  Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way;  say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you."

“Your God” – God will provide – not people – not yourself, but God.

Even in the midst of Judgment – There is Hope – God will come.

Even in the Wilderness, Desert, and Wasteland – There is Hope – God will come

Even when you are Exhausted, Feeble, Broken – There is Hope – God will come.