January 5, 2003

Have You Ever Dreamed of a Better Day?

Isaiah 65:17-25 (NRSV)

INTRODUCTION

His name was Rick. I first met him in the late 60’s. For three years he played lead guitar for a very popular rock and roll band in our high school. He was a “cool dude” with curly, long black hair, bushy sideburns, and the hint of a goatee. All the girls thought he was the sexiest man alive. All the guys wanted his looks, his talent, his confidence, and his popularity with the ladies!

But we also knew that Rick loved to party – and party hard. He had a reputation as a heavy drinker and an even heavier drug user. There were many times we saw him wasted at a dance or party – too high to walk straight or play his music – and way too high to drive. What a shame to see all that talent wasted on a drug habit that was too strong to break.

1971 was our freshmen year at college. I remember coming home one weekend to hear the news that Rick had become a Christian. It seems that he had become friends with some “Jesus freaks” down at the beach, and eventually, their love and witness had been overpowering. He got saved, was baptized in the Atlantic Ocean, and began using his musical talents for the Lord.

It was good news, but I was skeptical. I remembered Rick’s wild party days and his dependency on drugs and alcohol. Could this be for real? Then one Sunday, he showed up at our church. The youth pastor had invited Rick to sing and share his testimony – I can still hear him singing “Amazing Grace” to the tune of “House of the Rising Sun.”

Three years later, I learned that Rick had fallen on hard times again. Alcohol still had its talons dug deep into Rick’s soul. His marriage had failed; he had lost his job; and now he was returning to rock and roll music with its lethal temptations. This pattern repeated itself over the course of the next 20 years – a cycle of renewed resolution to keep clean, followed by a period of intense struggle, and finally succumbing to the temptations that left him discouraged and defeated.

Have you ever been stuck in a cycle of addiction? Ever grow tired of making promises, striving to do better and make a change, only to find yourself returning to those same old patterns of behavior that you promised yourself you would never repeat?

SITUATION

The New Year inspires many of us to take assessment of our lives and determine to make changes for the future. We call these noble efforts at self-improvement New Year’s Resolutions. And though our addictions are usually not as physically challenging as Rick’s, they are just as deadly to our souls.

We embrace all kinds of “narcotics” to numb the anxiety and emptiness that envelope us. We spend money on consumer goods (most of which are not really needed), hoping that these possessions will add meaning and value to our lives. We become addicted to entertainments (Thursday night is “Must-See-TV”) that dull our mind and spirit. We develop eating habits that turn our emotional stress into heart problems. Even over-the-counter and prescription drugs become a hard habit to break.

Who hasn’t come to the beginning of the year with one or more of the following resolutions in mind: I’m going to get out of debt this year… I will read one book a month… I will lose x amount of pounds… I plan to walk three miles every day – 1,000 miles in 2003! We have such grand intentions. But our personal histories are littered with broken resolutions and unrealized goals.

In this respect, we are very much like the children of Israel. Their history was spotted with spiritual failure – a cycle of unfulfilled promises and broken resolutions. Prophets came and went, seasons of repentance and renewal occurred, and promises were made and promptly discarded. There were always other gods to chase after, other priorities to pursue, and other alliances to rely upon. Yet year after year, the children of Israel pledged to walk faithfully with God and do better.

Why do we make such bold resolutions? Perhaps, it comforts us to think that we are really in control of our lives. We think that somehow, by the power of our own determined resolve, we can break free from the chains that bind us and stop the cycles of failure that we have created. We try our hardest, but our efforts fall short.

COMPLICATION

In these final chapters of Isaiah, the children of Israel are celebrating their homecoming from exile. God has called them into existence once again: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” What a wonderful chance for a new beginning!

But as the chapter unfolds, the Lord reminds the people that they have always and ever been a stiff-necked and rebellious people: I held out my hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices; a people who provoke me to my face continually… (Isa 65:2-3). How can a rebellious people with this history of unfaithfulness ever be trusted again?

Once upon a time there was a young man named Joe who had a problem with pornography. It started in an innocent way, as some of the movies he started renting were just a little racy. His wife warned him of the dangers, but his interest was peaked. Before he could blink his eyes, he found himself buying magazines, visiting porn sights on the internet, and hiding his XXX video rentals from his wife. His addiction became all-consuming and his love affair with his wife was on the skids.

When Mary discovered the reason for Joe’s change of behavior, she was devastated – she couldn’t believe her husband of two years was a sex addict? Joe sought counseling, attended classes, and promised to stay away from the temptation. But time and time again, he fell back into the cycle of addiction. Joe was beginning to doubt himself. And Mary was doubtful that their marriage would ever be intimate and fulfilling. How could she ever trust Joe again? His history said otherwise.

It’s bad enough that Israel is stuck in a cycle of failure. But now, on the verge of her return to the land of promise – a homecoming made possible by the power and intention of God – God reminds Israel of her utter unreliability. It’s as if God is saying, “I am bringing you back home to give you a second chancel, but I am not so sure I can trust you anymore!”

What can break the cycle of failure? How can we, who have broken our promises ever be trusted again? What can we do to regain the confidence of the Lord? Absolutely nothing! Our efforts always fall short…human resolve is no match for the sin-sick addictions of the human heart.

RESOLUTION

Enter the resolve of God. The prophet declares that God is doing something totally new: For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. (Isa 65:17) God’s new thing includes God’s forgetting our failures of the past. We are given an incredible gift – the gift of a clean slate, a fresh start, a new trust. What a bold, risky, loving move by a bold, risk-taking, loving God!

Verse 23 declares that this people, whom God has reclaimed, are a blessed people. The first sign of God’s blessing is the drenching of the people in joy. I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people (vv. 18-19). Joy is God’s gift to His people arising from His promise that He has everything under control. Joy does not depend on our circumstances, but on God’s pledge to be with us, for us, and in us.

The second sign of God’s blessing is seen in the abundance with which He showers His redeemed children. Long life, ownership of houses, fruitful harvests, blessed children, and unhindered prayers all demonstrate God’s desire and intention to overflow our lives with His abundance. Like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands… Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear. (vv. 22, 24)

The final sign of God’s blessing is seen in the peace, the wholeness, the shalom that characterizes those who live under God’s sovereign reign. Natural enemies – wolf and lamb, lion and ox are seen to be living in harmony together – a sure sign of God’s transforming power – all creation is made new!

These are the gifts of God’s blessing – joy, abundance, and peace. These are the gifts God gives to us, His people, to empower us to break the cycles of addiction that have held us in check, keeping us from reaching our maximum potential as children of the Heavenly Father.

CELEBRATION

Can our cycles of failure be broken? Certainly not in our own strength; not by our own efforts. But when we see our lives drenched in joy – as Jesus said, “so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them” (John 17:13) – we begin to taste the new life of kingdom of God!

When we realize how futile our own resources are, and how abundant God’s resources are – As Jesus said, “I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10) – we begin to walk in the newness of life that Christ brings.

When we open our hearts to the sovereign rule of God and embrace the shalom that he offers us – as Jesus said, “My peace I leave with you” (John 14:27) – all of life becomes an expression of God’s creative power. Such an incredible gift! Be glad and rejoice forever in what God is creating!