Death is the shadow that hangs over all of us. Isaiah describes it as “the covering that is cast over all peoples” (Isaiah 25:7). Sometimes it feels close than others, but there it hangs. How wonderful then to read that the LORD will one day swallow it up forever! And that He will wipe away tears from all His people!
What’s even more amazing is the change of tone. In the preceding chapters of Isaiah it’s mainly been judgement. Judgement on the nations for their wickedness and even on Israel for their unfaithfulness to the Lord. There have been occasional glimmers of hope, such as the promise of light bringing great joy, ending war and bringing God’s eternal kingdom (Isaiah 9). But it’s largely been about judgment.
Yet now, God promises the most wonderful future, a future that will be amazing because of what is there, as well as what isn’t there. What is present is the Lord himself, providing a feast! Here is restored relationship with the Lord, something broken in Genesis 3 and now totally restored. And what is taken away also makes it so special, for He will take away all the scars of the curse. He will swallow up death forever! Can you imagine that shadow no longer hanging over you and those you love? And all hurts taken away, what a tender image of the Lord himself wiping away the tears from our faces. He alone knows all that you have faced, all the pain and the hurt, and one day, if you belong to Jesus, you can know He will take away all the hurt.
How can we know this glorious future? Only because Jesus was willing to take all the judgment on himself, face death for us, and conquer the grave. If we trust in Him to take our sin, we can know we are united to Him and will be raised with him. But we must turn to Him in this lifetime, for Isaiah also warns of the destruction of God’s enemies, “Moab shall be trampled down” (Isaiah 25:10). The only way for the glorious future is if God removes all opposition to Him. Those who gladly accept Jesus as saviour and surrender to Jesus as Lord will be welcomed into the LORD’s feast where we will enjoy Him forever, but those who refuse Him, will face His judgment.
No wonder the apostle Paul warns us to be careful how we build, we must stick with Jesus and the true gospel and not shift from it. (1 Corinthians 3:10-22).
So today, if you belong to Jesus, look forward to that day when He will welcome you into eternal dwellings with death removed forever and all hurt taken away. If you are unsure if you belong to Jesus, the best thing you can do is make sure, accept Him as your saviour, submit to Him as your Lord today.
Light and Momentary Troubles 
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