“I will make peace your governor and well-being your ruler. No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.” Isa. 60:17-18
Dear Lord Jesus, I’m up a bit earlier than usual today—vexing, longing, but also deeply grateful. Thank you for all the hope crammed into these two verses. Thank you for the coming Day of no more “violence, ruin, and destruction”—no more “death, mourning, crying, or pain” (Rev.21:4). Thank you for promising it, securing it—now we long for you to bring it. “How long O Lord?” indeed.
When will drone attacks and random stabbings, international conflicts—even petty arguments between friends, cease to exist? When will “Peace be our governor” and “Well-being our ruler”? When will all razor-wire topped, electrified fences be replaced with “walls of Salvation” and “gates of Praise”?
We intensely crave that kind of leadership, culture, and world. Jesus, can you hurry it up, Jesus, please? You promised wolves and lambs, calves and lions will live together in kindness (Isa. 11:6-9). Your glory, not our lovelessness, will cover the earth. When is that actually going to happen, Lord?
Until then, show us how to live by the Gospel, not by the sword—by the way of your cross, not the ways of mere men—by expectant faith, not paralyzing fear—by extending your love, not pulling down our shades. So very amen, Jesus, So Very Amen.