"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever....Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales....All nations before Him are as nothing, and they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless.....He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless....Even the youths shall faint and be weary....But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40: 15 & 17)
I watched Monday Night Football last evening. At one point, a 32 year old running back started off on what was to be a 90 yard touchdown run. I was amused at my reaction. When he broke into the clear, I started cheering, "You go, guy." I kept waiting for the younger corner backs who were chasing him to catch him; they didn't. I just starting laughing. I guess it was an old guy cheering on another "old" guy--- a great moment. (Some are probably thinking, "Wow! We need to pray for you!")
Maybe what I saw last night was a sort of illustration of today's text. Everything apart from Jesus Christ is, "a drop in a bucket,..counted as the small dust....All...are counted by Him less than nothing....Even the youths shall faint and be weary." That 32 year old running back is one of the best in the league, but he will not be able to do what I saw indefinitely.
Yet in the face of our "withering" life, notice the "Good News" recorded in our text. "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Yes, this is for the young and old in the Church. Some may say, "Well, this doesn't help me now." It should. Everything, "withers," and, "fades." In Jesus Christ, however, there is no withering and no fading. I cannot now, "....run and not be weary...." But because of Jesus' Death and Resurrection, "That Day," is coming.
Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for this great promise. Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
