Writing from the Emerald Isle, it’s hard to imagine the dry land and desert that Isaiah speaks of! We take our lush green land for granted, we grumble about the rain, but think how much worse a desert must be. Imagine being desperate for rain. Imagine how happy you would be to see refreshing rain and experience the renewal that it brings.
Isaiah uses this analogy to describe what will happen for God’s people. The previous chapters have been full of judgment for our sin, but in Isaiah 35 there is the most wonderful renewal. We have the desert rejoicing and blossoming. A parched land being quenched and renewed. And not only the land, bodies as well. Bodies that are weak will be strengthened (v3), anxious hearts will be calmed (v4). And look at the promise of v5 “the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.”
Can you imagine seeing for the first time, after years of blindness? What joy, what rich sights to behold, what glorious sights would you behold? Or the first sound a deaf person would hear? Would you go to a waterfall? Or listen to an insect buzzing near a flower? The joy of being able to join in conversation and feel included. And for the lame to be able to walk – no wonder they are leaping! How much more will those who have suffered physically in this life time enjoy their new bodies in the new creation.
When will these things be? When Jesus Christ walked this earth we got a glimpse of how good it is when king Jesus is present with his people. The blind had their eyes opened and followed him, the deaf were made to hear and listened to Him, and the lame were raised up and glorified him. When Jesus Christ returns He will totally renew His creation and all who belong to Him by faith. The result will be “everlasting joy shall be upon their heads, they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 35:10)
It will be so glorious, like a desert bursting into bloom, so glorious that the apostle Paul says it will make our present troubles light and momentary by comparison.
Who is this future for? Is it for those who have earned it through their good living? No, it’s for those who have received forgiveness from Jesus. Our reading from 1 Corinthians 6 tells that how we live does matter, but whatever we have done can be forgiven if we will turn to Jesus. Paul tells the Corinthians that they were washed, sanctified and justified in the name of Jesus Christ. We are renewed and made ready for the new creation. We are given His Holy Spirit to live within us, and because we were bought at a price we should glorify God with how we live (1 Corinthians 6:20).
What are you most looking forward to in the new creation? Thank God for it today and ask for His help to live for Him today.
Light and Momentary Troubles 
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