The Scriptures affirm, the song repeats: ‘This is my Father’s world’
By Dean Collins
Every morning I am reminded that this is my Father’s world. My day begins in the dark, on a screened-in porch before the birds begin their singing. For more than an hour each morning I hear and eventually see a glimpse of what God created, is daily renewing, and will completely restore when Jesus returns. In these moments I can sense the perfect peace that Isaiah wrote about in Isaiah 26.
Many passages in Isaiah speak not only of the coming judgment on Israel but also of a future Messiah, Jesus, who would come and renew and restore all of creation. As we read chapter 26 we are given a glimpse of what our Father’s world will be like when Jesus returns. But these words are not there just to create a longing for eternity but to remind us that our Father wrote the script and that nothing the enemy throws at us now can change the outcome.
Isaiah’s words give us present hope:
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”
Morning prayers, morning meditations, and morning Scripture reading are critical to experiencing peace in our Father’s world. My challenge, and maybe yours as well, is keeping my mind “stayed” on Jesus and remaining confident that all of his promises will be fulfilled. Isaiah’s words give promises for us and offer words of confession for us to offer back to God. The truth is “we wait for Jesus” every day and in every place. Yes, it is his Father’s world. Yes, he was crucified, raised from the dead, and sits at the right hand of the Father. But as he sits in Heaven he offers his peace to us today. Read these words from Jesus before his crucifixion:
“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
The peace Jesus has given us is the perfect peace Isaiah wrote about and can be found as the Holy Spirit helps us keep our minds focused and stayed on Jesus who offers shalom shalom, or perfect peace.
But Isaiah also reminds us that there are many unrighteous who act as adversaries constantly trying to interrupt or sabotage God’s peace in our hearts and minds. Here are Isaiah’s words about what happens around us:
“If favor is shown to the wicked, he does not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness he deals corruptly and does not see the majesty of the Lord. O Lord, your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it.”
Does God desire for the unrighteous to discover him? Of course. He died for all sinners and desires for all to come to know him. But we know that if we do not walk in the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, then we are walking in the ways of the flesh. The enemy actively stirs up strife, jealousy, fits of rage, and dissensions, as Paul described in Galatians 5. But what we need to remember, and can only remember as we keep our minds stayed on Christ, is that this is our Father’s world and he will fully support and provide for us while we live here on our way to living with him in eternity.
Most nights before I go to bed I retreat to my deck. There I see the majesty of the stars and planets, hear the night creatures, and once again have assurance that my father is present, is providing for his creation, and will see me through all the way until Christ returns.
Father, in the middle of our trials and challenges we sometimes forget that all is yours and that you are not absent. Forgive us for believing that we are in control. We surrender our lives to you today and ask that you keep us in perfect peace as we focus our minds on you. We will sing along with the Christian artist who reminds us again, “This Is My Father’s World.” We fully trust you to prevail in our circumstances today and to restore all things when Jesus returns. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
Your time with God’s Word
Isaiah 26:3-4, 7-15, 19-21 ESV
Photo by Mindaugas Vitkus on Unsplash
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