The church lives, it conquers, it progresses by faith. The people in this scripture felt what God said couldn’t be so. It doesn’t matter what shape the world is in. That doesn’t govern what shape we’re to be in. We can let it get to us, but that’s our misfortune. The Lord made a straight forward statement.
20. The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell. 21. Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been? 22. Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. Isaiah 49:20-22
One of the greatest enemies the church faces is pessimism. It’s easy to do considering the shape of the country and the world. Protests earlier this year in the Middle East, then Africa made us wonder if things would get that way here. There is a worldwide pessimism as if every country, in turn, is deliberately trying to self-destruct. Jesus said these things must be. He didn’t tell us to hang our heads. He said to look up because our redemption is nigh.
We tend to feel it can’t be how it once was, like we might as well pack our bags and be done with it. The world doesn’t govern the church. The devil tries to get us to give up. The Head of the church is who we are to listen to, not the devil. One day every knee will bow to the Head; even those who refuse him will bow. God is in heaven regardless of what the world thinks or says. We must listen to the word of the Lord, and no one else.
Verse 20 tells us what will happen. Verse 21 raises a question and then sums it up. How can it happen at a time like this? The Bible says the children are on the way. People can still be saved. He said it as if it’s a secondary thought. He told the people that even though they had lost some, they would still have children. Instead of believing God, they wanted to argue. That’s what we do too. How will it happen? Well, the same one still saves souls who used to. You may have lost your punch as a Christian, but the gospel hasn’t lost it. The Father still draws people. The Holy Ghost still convicts. Jesus still saves.
There is a two-fold problem. When you dwell on the past you see only a present and future that are going down. The way of the cross has challenges, but we have the strength to climb. Even though the past was good, we’re closer to the finish line now than ever before. There is no reason to wear out and be pessimistic. Don’t let present conditions and what you see as a dire future get to you. God is God of the present and future. God is God, and God will never change. God is God, and he always will be God.
The angels told the disciples that Jesus would come back. There is much to look forward to. We see in part, and sometimes what we see is small. God sees the entire picture. He’s in the entire picture and everywhere in between. He’s still Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. Wherever you may be, God is there. Maybe you have had losses, but don’t dwell on them. If it’s your fault, repent. Lay aside the weights and sins that beset you and get in the race. If you’ve lost ground, lost touch with prayer and fellowship with God, or lost the enjoyment of the house of the Lord, you’ve lost children so to speak. You can get it back. The response is up to you. Be a couch potato or be mobile. You must use your ability to pray and study, and witness. God is still God in the pew, the foyer, in the basement, at the altar, and he said we have children to come.
A child is on the way! You can’t give up. If you’ve lost ground or slowed down spiritually, don’t let it defeat you. Fix the past if it needs it. Turn to God. He will cause you to say there are children on the way. If you’ve set your gospel shoes aside and feel there is no use to try, remember there is more reason now than ever. God is still willing to authenticate your witness to help others be saved. We can’t strong arm people, but we can do some preparation for God to work. He will do his part; we need to do ours.
Count your losses. Fix what needs to be fixed. Prepare for an increase. Do what you can so children will be on the way. Do you need to pray harder for the lost? When Zion travails, children will be born. There are people who want to be saved. There are people looking for the truth.
Where have you been? When it comes to what you used to be, where are you now? The experience of people being saved will be in direct proportion to how you are. Do you believe children are on the way? Jesus has said so. What can you do to prepare for it? Each of us stands in the gap. Our prayer should be “Lord, help me deal with the losses and prepare for those on the way.”
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 