One of Christ's great achievements is to transform death (1 Corinthians 15:54-57) so that it becomes a stage in the believer's journey to heaven. Our text in Isaiah speaks of God's ransomed ones arriving home. All of heaven's human inhabitants are ransomed. God's Law held them, as did their own sin (apart from Jesus). And 'nothing that defiles' shall enter there. Christ came to save, in his love and pity. He bore the penalty and consequences of their sin and applies that to every one of them. So they are ransomed from condemnation, from the control of sin; they have the freedom of children of God,and they will also be freed from the grave. Their Christian life is a return to God. They have a new hope - to be with and like him; a new longing - the desire for heaven makes us purposeful; new living - to please him by keeping his Word; and a new Lord - other things mastered them before, now the love of Christ constrains them. This is God's will for them (though they may be afraid they have no right to it). They have God's authority - his gospel is a call to unite with Christ and to share what is his; indeed, it is he who put the desire for heaven in their heart. They were given to Christ (John 17) and purchased by him ('not your own ... bought with a price'). This is what Christ prays for ('That they may be with me ...'). It was Christ's desire and prayer before it was yours. it is certain they will arrive - Believe it! There will be the joy of arrival, the joy of being ready at last, the joy that the journey is over, the joy of their reward, all tears wiped away - forever! Our present uncertainties are the result of our unbelief. 'Come with us, for the Lord has spoken good.' |
