God has planned something better than the progress I’m enjoying today

By Dean Collins

I find myself in a tension. Maybe you feel it as well. I get excited by the amazing, nearly unbelievable technology advances that impact my life daily. It seems nearly every day I learn of some new invention, app, or technology breakthrough that either has made or will make my life easier. The things my phone can do today I could not have imagined just a few years ago. If I get to live just a few more years I will get in a car that drives me where I need to go while I read a book or take a nap. New inventions and technology are everywhere, and much good comes from all of it.

On the other hand, I’ve observed that many believe somehow our advancements will translate to more help with substantive topics like justice, poverty, and even salvation. The suggestion of some is that our progress with technology means that we will also find new and innovative ways to solve things that history suggests have never been solved. And the reason we haven’t solved some of these weightier matters is that we think we are smarter than God.

Plans formed of old

I think we might need to take a lesson from the prophet Isaiah who said this (25:1): “O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.“

To those who had experienced and would experience significant difficulty, even exile, the prophet gave a word of hope. Isaiah reminded those in Judah that God had done wonderful things in the past. Those wonderful things, especially the deliverance out of Egypt and into the Promised Land were not suddenly thought up to arrive just in the nick of time. No, those wonderful events and the wonderful things God will do soon and later come from “plans formed of old, faithful and sure.”

Your pastor or some Bible teacher has no doubt told you that God is not surprised by whatever circumstances we find ourselves in the middle of this minute. Our all-knowing God sees everything and has already formed plans to help us now and permanently. These are not pie-in-the-sky plans. They are plans formed long ago, faithful and sure because God is faithful and sure.

God can turn powerful groups, rulers, and oppressors into heaps of ruin. The powerful and arrogant may think they have conquered and will enjoy their powerful places, but in an instant God can, has, and will turn the ruthless leaders and structures into ruin.

But on the other hand, he will simultaneously be a shelter in the time of storms for those who trust him. Just as he has met the needs of many who have been in helpless and difficult places before, he will do it again and again. God is not partial to the past. He is for us and is victorious in the present as well.

Wiping away all tears

Just a few days ago I went to a celebration of life. Hundreds of friends and family members came to remember a son, a husband, a father, a friend, a coach, a mentor, a person they had known. Gathering to remember and celebrate the life of one who has transitioned ahead of us to the next life brings some joy and comfort. But it also brings us great sadness. Our loved one is fine in the arms of Jesus, but they are no longer in our arms.

Many of you know that the older we get, the more of these celebrations of life and memorial services we attend. What once was a handful is now in the hundreds of good-byes. Tears flow as we remember. And the tears do not go away quickly.

But Isaiah brings this word to help us: “And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces.”

There is a day coming when death is gone forever. And when Jesus returns, he will wipe away tears from all of our faces. We will have no more fear of death. We will have no fear of scarcity. We will have no fear of suffering. Our God the God who made old, faithful, and true plans will reign, and we will be with him and our loved ones forever.

And there will be a party. And it sounds like the menu will break any and every dietary restriction you or your doctor has imposed on you. Meat and wine will be served. Apologies to the vegetarians and teetotalers. I am just quoting scripture! God has quite a banquet for us to enjoy with each other and in his presence.

The beginning and the end

But as I said when I started today, I will live in this tension a while longer. I will enjoy the new and wonderful inventions that help me live well on this side. I will also commit myself to remembering and following the plans that are tested, faithful, and true that come from God’s Word and are plans formed of old.

We can enjoy the new gadgets, but we must never think we will experience what’s important any other way but from the one who is the Alpha and Omega. He was there at the beginning, and we can trust that his plans will get us to the right places in the end.

Your time with God’s Word
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭25:1-9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Photo by Nathan Dumlao at Unsplash.com
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