“The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish” (Isaiah 24:4).
TEXT — Isaiah 24:1-15
Message
Hurricane Irma hit Puerto Rico on September 6, 2017, as a Category 5 storm, causing widespread devastation. The then-governor imposed a curfew, resulting in the closure of drinking bars during the storm. Despite the temporary halt in nightlife, as soon as the curfew was lifted, people rushed back to bars like La Placita to resume their regular activities. The storm disrupted the city’s usual loud music and night parties, but the community quickly returned to their socializing and revelry once the danger had passed.
When God judges, there is no wine, singing, or celebration. There are no songs and cheer and no parties. The earth will mourn and groan in pain for the severity of God’s wrath poured on it. Prophet Isaiah paints a picture of this in today’s passage. The city is in ruins; the gates, typically closed to protect the city, are now battered. Nothing is left when the olive tree is beaten, and the city is made desolate. The voices of the bride and groom are stunningly silent. The nation’s natural scenery is devastated. We see how God will empty the earth, implying that the earth is full. The hand of God will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants. This is similar to what happened with Noah, the flood, and the ark.
God will judge everyone regardless of their status. Material wealth won’t matter in the end. Our foundations might be wrong, needing a change. Global warming is already taking its toll, with effects including melting ice and rising sea levels. Africa’s climate is overheating, and Europe is facing more intense heat waves. The earth is showing signs of distress, and we need to take action. It’s time to view the world from a different perspective and address the issues at hand. We can already see the impact of human activities on the environment, and it’s essential to make changes now.
It is time to pray to God to have mercy, backed up by a corresponding lifestyle of repentance and humility. We do not approach God to have Him dispense grace like a vending machine. He will heal our land if we repent genuinely and embrace His ways.
Thought for the day
Celebrating when we ought to be mourning is a confirmation of a lost mind.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
