The Faithful

“On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples,
 a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines.  On this mountain he will destroy
 the shroud that enfolds all peoples,
 the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever.
 The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces;
 he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth.
 The Lord has spoken. 

In that day they will say, ‘Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us.
 This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.’” (Isaiah 25:6-9 NIV)

I read a story this morning in the Washington Post about fans of the Washington Nationals, the early favorites to win this year’s World Series. Not many years ago, the Nationals were a 100-loss team.  Yet they had some faithful fans who just appreciated major league baseball returning to the capital city after decades without it.  They stuck by them losing season after losing season.  Now the Nationals are winners and fans are coming out of the woodwork.  Yesterday, on Opening Day, one couple arrived at the stadium early and marveled at all the newcomers who are now diehard Nationals fans.  Their thoughts?  “We were here at the beginning and those people are coming now.”  

As I read this passage, my thoughts immediately went to this story. People are always quick to jump on the bandwagon of a perceived winner, but it is only the faithful who will endure years (decades even—think the Chicago Cubs!) of losing and still not give up.

At this point in biblical history, the Israelites were losing.  They were divided into two kingdoms and both were being threatened.  Their kings were not following the Lord and the vast majority had lost their way.  But out of this darkness, Isaiah speaks of hope and a time that is coming when the Lord will prepare a great feast and celebrate the end of sorrows and death, and the ones who will be invited will be those who were faithful, who trusted in the Lord even when things looked bleak and people were turning away from Him in droves.  

I take heart in this passage because we are living in a culture today that, by and large, has turned away from God.  They will only tolerate Him on their terms, making Him into what they desire Him to be and their ways into His ways.  I admit it is tempting just to give in and go with the cultural current.  It would be a lot easier and much more acceptable, but I have this picture in my mind that Isaiah paints.  No more death.  No more sorrows.  A feast prepared by the Lord of the universe.  And only those who remain faithful, who continue to trust in Him, will be invited.  Those of us who follow Jesus faithfully may be the losers right now and not very popular.  But a time is coming when we will be generously rewarded.  

Today, hold onto that promise and continue to trust in the Lord.  For the day is coming when many of those who stand against us will recognize the Lord as the winner and will be lining up outside His Kingdom, hoping to be acknowledged as His fans.

© Jim Musser 2013