GO SO THEY WILL COME

Go so they will come. That would be the need now. But sometimes, they will come now, and that is exciting when they come--and come for the right reasons.

I began reading Isaiah the other day, and when I came to chapter 2, verses 1-5, I had to pause and reflect. I hope you will do the same.

"In the last days"--does this refer to now or the future reign and rule of God--a time when time here is no more? Would be great if these things would characterize now!

God's mountain--God's temple raised above all others--chief--most important. Notice in the NIV, "all nations will stream to it." (v. 2)

Quite a contrast here--God's temple on His mountain raised to the highest, and yet the nations STREAM to it. Normally streams stream down, not up. Obviously the idea of many moving toward God--but taken literally, and even truthfully, this would be a work of God. Only God can make a stream run up--and only God can cause people to come to Him and worship Him for the right reasons.

All nations--God is all about people from every nation worshiping Him--listening to Him--obeying Him. In Genesis 12, God told Abram that through him and his family all the nations would be blessed. The Great Commission says to make disciples of "all nations." None is to be left out.

But how will the nations hear "without a preacher"--and preacher doesn't just mean those ordained to the gospel ministry by a church. Every believer should be a preacher. (I believe the Great Commission, Matthew 28:18-20, is for everyone, not just the apostles and not just for those the church calls to preach/teach/lead).

The nations are all around us. Look at the names of the doctors in your community. Look at the names of those who run the motels (or own them). In fact, we have almost always been a nation of nations since the founding fathers came here from another nation. So should we not share with those from other nations? That is us! When they hear--when they see this in us--when they feel our Christian love and our walk matching our talk, some will come to worship the same Lord we do. In fact, many already do.

Notice here why the many peoples will come to the mountain/temple of the Lord. (v. 3) "He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths." They go to be taught by God. But they go not just to be taught. They go to learn in order to DO. Teaching/learning is not enough by itself. We should learn about God and learn His ways in order to obey them, perform them, live them. (Sounds a bit like the last of the Great Commission--"teaching them to obey all that I commanded you."

Today, so many go for the wrong reasons. They go to hear the good preaching or teaching. They go to enjoy the good music and praise. (Actually God should hear our praise.) They go to see friends, to make contacts, to get an emotional high. Some of these could be ok, but a major reason to go is in order to learn to do--to live for Him--to be changed by God's teaching to be more like Him and live His ways HERE IN THIS WORLD.

I notice also in v. 4 that God will cause the fighting one day to cease. He will cause people to make implements of war into implements to grow crops and to harvest. But God also wants this now, as He wants believers to get on His agenda, and quit the fighting and bickering about things that don't really matter. He wants us to quit quarreling over petty things and to do so to get on with His agenda, and be models and examples for others of what it looks like to have Him as our Lord, Master, Ruler. Some believers today, even in churches, need to "beat their swords into plowshares" and to get with God's purpose of making disciples and teaching people to obey God rather than their agendas which do not honor God.

This mountain/temple/church is not My church. It is God's! Therefore, the purpose and agenda should be all about Him and not about me (and you).

As more people of the world come to seek God, then "nation will not rise against nation nor train for war." Instead they will learn from God and obey what He is teaching. Part of that message is to be united and get along, to forgive and cooperate.

And v. 5 says to "walk in the light of the LORD." God is a god of light--of goodness--of righteousness--of love, peace, joy, mercy. As we learn about (and from) Him and obey Him, we become like Him also. We become people who live His light--His goodness, righteousness, love, peace, joy, mercy toward others. We are called to live our lives to honor Him--be those who reflect Him to others. That would be more than just on Sundays--it would be 24/7.

When we take up God's agenda, and live it out, we are those who draw others to Him--help others see Him--help others want Him. We reflect the one we are most like.

So what can you and I do to prepare for this time, if indeed it is a time after a return of the Lord? (Some believe, 2nd coming of Christ) One thing I notice is that they WANTED TO GO to Him for the right reasons. We need to let His agenda, His purposes, Him be what we want, and then obey. We also need to WANT to go--WANT to learn--WANT to be changed and obey.

Prepare the nations for this time. They are all around you, even now. Reread this passage in light of Genesis 12:1-3 and Matthew 28:18-20, and see how God may want YOU to live it out.