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Today’s message title, “Seek the Lord while he may be found“ is taken from Isaiah 55:6. This chapter 55 is talking about God’s invitation. Chapter 53 speaks about the work of salvation by the Lord’s servant.  Chapter 54 is about the blessing and the heavenly kingdom that will be brought about by the work of salvation. Verse 1 says, “Come, all you who are thirsty,

come to the waters;

and you who have no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without cost.”                           “

Then in today’s passage it says, “Seek the Lord while he may be found.”  (6) No matter how close God is, if you don’t personally seek God, you can’t receive those blessings.  The most fitting response to the Lord’s work is to seek the Lord. Today I would like to talk about three aspects of this.

１．The Lord will freely pardon (Vs. 6,7)

The first thing is why we must seek the Lord.  That is because the Lord has forgiven.  Please look at verses 6 and 7. “Seek the Lord while he may be found;

call on him while he is near.

Let the wicked forsake their ways

and the unrighteous their thoughts.

Let them turn to the Lord,

and he will have mercy on them,

and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”

Verse 1 says,” “Come, all you who are thirsty,

come to the waters;

and you who have no money,“  It isn’t just water. Food, wine and milk too will be received by free grace without paying money or paying the cost.  This is really an amazing invitation! It is unthinkable in our society to buy something without paying any money. However, here a more amazing invitation is being spoken about. That is if a person seeks the Lord, even if he is “wicked” (7), even if he is “unrighteous” (7), the Lord “will have mercy on them, and… freely pardon.” (7) Generally, the “wicked” (7) and “unrighteous” (7) are separated from God and walking their own selfish way so it seems like they would be abandoned by God, but that is not so. God is near to such wicked people, and “will have mercy on them.” (7) God is next to the “unrighteous” (7) and “he will freely pardon” (7) them.  Therefore, we must forsake our ways, and “seek the Lord”. (6)

How about you? Are you walking your own way, rather than the way of God? Are your thoughts yours or God’s? Even though you believe in Jesus as your Savior, do you strongly want to do as you want to do and live as you want to live?

Jesus said this. “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34) It is important to have your own firm opinions, but if they are too strong, then you won’t be able to listen to the Word of God.  Therefore, you must deny yourself. You must seek God’s way, not your own way. You must walk not by your own thoughts, but by God’s thoughts. Even if it looks foolish in man’s eyes, by listening to God’s Word and walking according to it, you will be the happiest person.

Let’s return to the Lord.  If so, the Lord “will have mercy on” (7) us.  Let’s return to the Lord. If so, the Lord “will freely pardon” (7) us. “Freely”! Our God freely pardons. If we commit a sin that can’t be made up for, we tend to think that we can’t be forgiven, but that is not so. Even if we are forgiven, we think that we can’t be forgiven easily and think that we must do penance or lots of charity in order to be forgiven, but that is wrong. God “will freely pardon.” (7) There is not one sin that God will not pardon. There is only one exception. That is to blaspheme the Holy Spirit. “People can be forgiven all their sins… but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven.” (Mark 3:28, 29) That is because even though the Holy Spirit shows sin through the words of the Bible, and says that salvation from that sin is through Jesus, if a person refuses to receive it, there is no way that he can be saved. That person will eternally not be forgiven. However, except for that sin, any kind of sin will be forgiven. Jesus Christ on the cross made atonement. There is not one sin that Jesus will not forgive. The moment you receive and believe in Jesus as your own Savior, all your past sins, present sins, and future sins are forgiven.

Please open your Bibles to I John 1:9. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9)

This is the promise of God. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us of our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9) This is amazing grace! This forgiveness is higher than human intellect. This is God’s forgiveness. If you seek the Lord; if you forsake your ways, your thoughts, your values, your plans, and return to the Lord, then the Lord “will have mercy on” (7) you. The Lord “will freely pardon” (7) you.

However, there is just one condition.  That is “while he may be found;…while he is near.” (6) In other words, there is a limited time limit.  He can’t be found forever. He won’t be near forever. In the course of time a time will come when even though you want to find him, you won’t be able to. In the course of time there will come a time when he will go far away. At that time it will be too late. Therefore, “while he may be found…while he is near” (6) we must “seek the Lord.” (6)  How about you? If you still haven’t believed in Jesus, you must not put off doing so. “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (II Cor. 6:2) Now is the chance to believe. No matter how wicked we are, no matter how unrighteous we are, the Lord is near you now. Therefore, we must “seek the Lord while he may be found.” (6)  In time, we won’t be able to seek the Lord.

２．God’s way and God’s thoughts are higher than yours (Vs. 8,9)

The reason this can be said is because God’s way and God’s thoughts are not ours and they are much higher.  Please look at verses 8 and 9. “’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ says the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”

They are certainly different. The forgiveness that we think of and God’s forgiveness is completely different. The dimension is different. “As the heavens are higher than the earth,” (9) so are God’s ways and our ways and God’s thoughts and our thoughts are completely different. Please compare your thoughts with God’s thoughts. If so, you will realize that they are totally different. That is because we are not God. God is omniscience and omnipotent, knowing everything.  However, we have limitations and limited knowledge. We don’t know the future. However, God knows everything: the past, present, and also the future.  We think that we know our own life the best, but in reality it is not so. Who knows you the best is God. That is because God made you. Therefore, God knows what your future will be. He can see what you can’t see. He knows what you don’t know.  God is perfect and has a perfect plan.

If so, the wisest thing to do is to believe in God and live putting all in God’s hands. You may believe in yourself, but there are limitations and you are doing nothing more that believing in your limited self. You may think that you know everything, but it is a limited knowledge. You may think that you know what is best, but God may have a completely different plan.

Last summer, the missionaries to Turkey, Mr. & Mrs. Suetomi came and gave their testimony from this passage. They were sent out to Turkey for 6 years doing a good work in Istanbul, Izmir, and Ankara and then they returned to Japan last year. No one planned it, but for the past 6 years the couple were led from one center of Turkish culture, economics, and politics to another.  In Istanbul and Izmir not only were they led to a good cooperative relationship with the church leaders, but through Koto concerts they shared the Gospel with the people they met and led many people to the church.  Even so, 2 years they were led to the capital city, Ankara. They didn’t know at all why they were in Ankara.  Last year when Prime Minister Abe visited Turkey, they were invited to a welcoming dinner that the Prime Minister Erdogan gave. They were given the opportunity to play the koto there. They were able to give a testimony to Prime Minister Abe by hand giving him their CD and a letter. Who could have ever dreamed of that! God knew everything.  God has a perfect plan. He sent the missionary couple to Ankara in advance.  God’s ways are higher than our ways and God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts.

If so, we should stop being troubled about thoughts of this and that, and we should pray putting all in God’s hands.  Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42) We must make this prayer our prayer.  This is what is best.  There is a grand plan of God prepared for you that is higher than your thoughts. You must rely upon this plan.  God loves you so he will prepare the best way for you. That’s because God gave his most important only son. Therefore, God’s plan is the best. We must put leave everything to that plan. We must pray like Jesus, “Your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.”

　３．God’s word will not return empty (Vs. 10-13)

The third point is the result. When we believe in God and live leaving everything in God’s hands, we will be filled with God’s blessings. Please read verses 10 and 11. “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

Here God’s Word is being spoken figuratively as rain and snow. “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth” (10) and brings life to the things that are there, God’s Word too will definitely not return empty. In Israel rain rarely falls. Israel has a rainy season and a dry season. The rainy season is in the winter. When the rainy season is over, the plants all sprout at once. The desert becomes green, and beautiful flowers bloom.  In the same way when God’s Word is spoken, no matter how dry the hearts of the people who hear it are, they will be watered and a beautiful flower will bloom. Even a person, who has been withered up until then, even an unproductive person too, will be changed into an abundant green heart. This is the Christian life. When God’s Word is planted in his heart, he becomes more and more alive. His thinking, and values change. What he says and does changes. His personality and habits completely change. God’s Word has that kind of power.

 Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thought and attitudes of the heart.” God’s Word is alive and has power so it can give man life.

In 1787 the English government sent 100 people to the Pacific island of Tahiti to pick up breadfruit plants and transport them to the West Indies. The name of the ship was called the Bounty.

After they reached the island, they made alcohol drinks from a native plant. They began drinking excessively and making life miserable for the women. The men also fought continuously and gradually killed each other off.  Finally only one man was left, John Adams. However, there we many children who had been born from the relationships between the English men and the native women.

About 30 years later an American ship visited on the island. The crew was surprised by the scene before their eyes. There was a church and John Adams, an old man, was the pastor. He was the king of the island, and like a father to everyone. He was surrounded by children of mixed blood. He explained to the crew what had happened on the island.

After all of his companions had killed each other off, John who was powerful and the only person left returned to the Bounty.  There he found a Bible. When he read the Bible, his eyes were filled with tears that wouldn’t stop. He repented.  He became a man of God.

After that by the leading of the Holy Spirit, he gathered the children together and taught the Word of God. The people respected him and made him king and followed him. Then the island became a read paradise. This was the power of 1 Bible.

 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thought and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) When the Word of God is preached, “it will not return…empty.” (11) It “will accomplish what” (11) God desires” and achieve the purpose for which “ (11) God sent it.

Even so we may think that there is no meaning in in preaching the Gospel because the other person doesn’t respond and shows no interest in faith or spiritual things. You may think there are no results. However, don’t give up. God’s Word will definitely not return empty.  It will definitely accomplish what God desires “and achieve the purpose for which” (11) God sent it.  To save people is the work of God. It has completely no relationship to our technique. When we speak the Word of God, the Word is alive working and changes that person into a person of God.

How wonderful that blessing is in verses 12 and 13. Let’s read this together. “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.  Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”

 This is God’s promise for you. When you plant the Word of God, “you will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” (12) It is not just man. “The mountains and hills… and all the trees of the field” (12) too will sing to the Lord.  That is because by Jesus sin has been atoned. When sin is atoned by Jesus not only man who is stained with sin, but all of the natural world will be redeemed too.

Verse 13 is what it is like. “Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.” “Thornbush” (13) and “briers” (13) are symbols of curse. The “thornbush” (13) and “briers” (13) will all be removed and instead juniper and myrtle will grow.  I think you know Junipers. They are green and alive all year round. Most junipers offer at least some level of drought resistance. They are a sign of life. Maybe you haven’t seen a myrtle tree. The plant is an evergreen shrub or small tree. The star-like flower has five petals and sepals, and numerous stamens. Petals are usually white. The leaf is very fragrant. Its fragrant oil is used in bath oils and pain killers. It is often used as a hedge plant. In other words, life is powerfully out of it. The juniper and myrtle are symbols of blessings. “This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.” (13)

Like desolated Israel that is afforested and is covered with unceasing green, if you seek the Lord “and turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on” (7) you. Your life will be full with blessings. We were put here to be blessed. By believing in Jesus Christ “instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.” (13) The mistakes of our past and the failures of our past will by believing in Jesus will all be changed for our good. What a wonderful promise” That is good news, the Gospel.

Now if you believe in Jesus this blessing will become yours.  If you will respond to the Holy Spirit’s leading, then you too can live a blessed life. However, you can’t have that chance forever. We must “seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” (6) No one knows what will happen to you tonight.  No one knows what will happen to you next week. Therefore, please “seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” If so, the Lord “will have mercy on” (7) you and “he will freely pardon.” (7) Then he will bless your life. Those people who have already believed in Jesus too, think anew about what it is to make Jesus your Lord, and forsake your ways and forsake your thoughts and “turn to the Lord”. (7)

Today let’s start Isaiah 55. Verse 1 says, “Come, all who are thirsty, come to the waters: and you who have no money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” “Without money” (1), in other words, this is an invitation to receive the free grace.  In your life up until now how many invitations have you received? Among those invitations which one was the most valuable to you? Here God is inviting you, “Come, all who are thirsty.” (1) God is inviting us to receive the free grace. This is really the most valuable invitation.  Today let’s look at three aspects of God’s invitation.

1. Come, all who are thirsty (Vs. 1)

First please look at verse 1.  Here it says, “Come, all who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money,” This is the response of the work of salvation accomplished by the Lord’s servant.  The Lord was put on the cross and died, and 3 days later rose again.  What blessing did that bring? In Isaiah 54:12 it says, “I will make… all your walls of precious stones.” By Jesus dying on the cross, to those who believe in his name the kingdom of heaven will come. There is an abundant peace. Nothing can separate them from the love of God in Christ. God is always with　you pouring out the living water upon you.  Therefore, here it is inviting “all who are thirsty” (1) to “come to the waters”. (1)

Recently in Japan too the amount of people that buy water to drink is increasing, but even so there is an image that water is a free drink. In other words, there is an image that it is not something expensive, but in reality it is a very precious resource. It is said that there is 1,400,000,000 km³ of water on the earth. Of that water 97% is salt water, and fresh water is only 3% of it. Also of the fresh water we can use only .8% for our life. Therefore, you can see how precious a resource water is.  In Europe when you go to a restaurant and order, if you want water, you must order mineral water.  You have to pay money and buy it.  Moreover, there are places when water is more expensive than wine. In Israel and Egypt and the Near and Middle Eastern desert regions water is more precious.  For example, in the biggest producer of oil, Saudi Arabia, water is said to be more expensive than oil.  That is how precious water is.

Even so, here it says to drink for free. Not only is water received, but also food milk and wine.  Of course this doesn’t just mean material blessings.  Just as Jesus said, ”I am the bread of life”, it is a symbol of life. Wine is a sign of joy. Milk is the milk of the Word of God “so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” (I Peter 2:2) It maintains life and is necessary for growth. Let’s come before God seeking such material and spiritual things that give us life, support our life, and bring joy to us.

The word “come” (1) is repeated three times. You have come here today. You came from somewhere.  I don’t know where, but you came. If you don’t come, nothing will begin. By coming you are able to receive. The number one thing God is saying to us is “come”. (1)The Lord Jesus said to many people who are troubled, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28)

Jesus didn’t say to watch him from a distance or to study him. He said, “Come to me.” (Matt. 11:28) If so, “I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28) Therefore, if you want to receive grace, you must come to Jesus. The word used for “Come” is a command in a strong form. This means that if you really want to receive God’s blessings, no matter what important business you have, no matter what you are doing, you must put it aside and come.

Here it says, “come to the waters”.(1) As I said before “water” is a symbol of life, but in the book of Isaiah it refers to God’s presence. Just like if man didn’t have water, he is not able to keep life in his body, if you don’t experience the reality of God’s presence at the deepest level of your spirit, then you can’t live. That is because man is made in the likeness and image of God.  If we are separated from the real creator God, no matter how good other things are, we are not satisfied in our hearts. It is the same as when there is no water, even if we drink juice and coca cola, later we get thirsty. In the end we want to drink water. In the same way, without water physical thirst is not satisfied, if God is not present in our spirit, our spiritual thirst will definitely not be satisfied. Blaise Pascal said, “There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.” Man is such a being.

Therefore, no matter how honored you are, no matter how much wealth you have, a life where God is left out of the picture is a thirsty life.  Man wants to flee from that and wants status and honor, wants to get wealth, and be authoritative, but such things can not fill the vacuum in the heart. To fill our spirit we must come to God and seek him. If so, we can receive freely.  You can buy food to nourish yourself and wine to for enjoyment, and milk to make you grow “without money and without cost.” (1)

When I was little my mother often said,” there is nothing more fearful than something that is free.” Something free is unthinkable. To give something for free, is to have a hidden scheme. However, God gives freely. This is called “grace”. It is the grace of God. Moreover, this is the one sided mercy of God. On our human side we can’t add any kind of help in receiving it. We don’t receive it because we did something like if we serve in the church or we pray hard or we do something devotedly. We receive it freely only by the one sided grace of God. It has no relationship to how much you have done before God. It depends only on whether we have come before God or not. It can be received only by coming before God. That is the grace of God. It is the salvation that is given by God. For God’s eyes we are all nothing. We have no value in and of ourselves. However God, by God’s grace says to those that are worthless, deep in sin, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters…come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” (1)

1. Eat what is good (Vs. 2)

Next, please look at verse 2. “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the riches of fare.”

Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?” (2) There are spiritual blessings that you can’t buy with money. Even though you can receive them freely, you don’t look at them even a little and why do you “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what” (2) you can’t take to heaven and what has no purpose in　heaven? Of course, this does not mean that we must not enjoy life on this earth. Rather, it means to think about what we should invest in and what should be our priorities. We should spend money on and labor for and use our time for things that will last eternally.

About this, Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:19-21)

Even if we use the salary that we finally got by working with sweat to get rid of stress by brand items and luxury clothing our hearts can’t be fulfilled. From the moment we buy it, it is already old.  There are times that even before we wear it, a bug eats it and we get a hole or we gain weight and it gets too small. There are times when the car that we finally got a loan for and bought becomes scratched and rusted. Therefore, recently I don’t worry when the car gets hit here and there. Anything that has form gets destroyed,   Therefore, “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matt. 6:20) It is not necessary to buy expensive alcohol to ease oneself. If you listen to “God and eat what is good,” (2) then you can be free from stress and you will become overflowing in joy.

Here it says, “and your soul will delight in the riches of fare.” (2) If you listen to “God and eat what is good,” (2) then “your soul will delight in the riches of fare.” (2)

“What is good” (2) and “the riches of fare” (2) is the opposite of “what is not bread” (2) and “what does not satisfy”.  It is our food and what satisfies us.  That is God’s Word of salvation.  At this time Israel was captured by Babylon. In the midst of such a pagan life they searched for something to fill their hearts. However, there wasn’t anything that satisfied them. Even if they experienced a momentarily feeling of satisfaction, the next moment their stomachs were empty. What can really fill a person’s heart is only God and His Word. Jesus said, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:4) This is “what is good”(2) and what is the strength for Israel to overcome the hopeless situation they were put in.

That is the same for us. What do you “spend money on”? What do you labor for? Do you “spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?” (2) Listen to “God and eat what is good.” (2) Eat “every word that comes from the mouth of God”, (Matt. 4:4) and put your hope in them. If so, then “your soul will delight in the riches of fare.” (2) Jesus Christ will be your water of life, and your bread of life. He will also become you a wine (joy) and also your milk (nutrition for growth). Jesus Christ will be your all in all. If you eat him, in other words, live seeking him, fellowshipping with him, then your life will be overflowing with good things.

1. You may live (Vs. 3-5)

The third point is the result. If you listen to God and come to God, then you will live.  Please look at verse 3.  Here it says, “Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live.”

You may think that you are alive, but that is a temporary thing.  You don’t know how much longer you will be living.  Here what this is talking about is eternal life. Even though you die, you will live. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.” (John 11:25) It is the life of living even though you are dead. This life is promised to Christians. Therefore, even if a Christian dies now, he is living. Those who are not Christians are different. If a non Christian dies tonight he will die again.  Death is 2 times, the physical death and the spiritual death. The spiritual death is called the second death and means that you are separated from God eternally. It is written about in Revelations 20:14 and 15. “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.  The lake of fire is the second death.  If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”  This is in other words, hell. However, Christians only die once. Even though they die physically, they enter heaven and there live eternally with God.  That is eternal life. Life on this earth is 70 or 80 years, at the longest about 100 years. No matter how long you keep going, 120 years at the longest. Everyone always dies. That is 100% so. Then after dying we spiritually die. When a person dies, it is not the end.  After death too we continue to live in our spirit. It is eternally. The world after death is absolutely long. Our life on this earth is just a drop. In a flash it passes by, but your life after death is eternal. Where will you spend your eternal world? Will you spend it in heaven with God? Or will you spend it in Hell in the lake of fire where God does not exist? “Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live.” (2) If you come to God, listen to God and receive God’s salvation, “your soul may live.” (2)

There were 2 young men who made their living by picket pocking. One day when they passed by a church one of the men felt his heart sting. He thought he wanted to go inside and worship. Therefore, he said to his pal, “Let’s go in and see.” Then the friend turned down the offer.  Consequently the young man went inside and worshipped, but the other young man left.

Then after 20 years the young man who refused to go in the church and went his own way, was serving a sentence in prison for a felony offense.  One day while in the prison the news of the new American President came on the radio. While he heard the news tears came to his eyes. The person who became the new President was his companion that many years ago had worked picket pocketing with him. His friend that had wanted to go inside the church to worship came before God and accepted Christ and changed dramatically and became the president of the country. That person was America’s 20^th President, James Garfield.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

The Gospel changes everything. If anyone comes before the Lord, following the Lord, and eats “what is good” (2), he can experience an amazing life.

Please look at the end of verse 3.  Here it says, “I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.” Here in order to show how certain the promise is it is recorded as God’s “faithful love promised to David.” (3) This is II Samuel 7;12-16. This is the prophecy that from the descendants of David the Savior Jesus Christ would be born, and by Him the kingdom would be established.  This would come by the one sided grace of God. David’s covenant was a covenant of grace. It is salvation only just by coming before God and receiving the grace that God gives. If we humble ourselves, just come before God and receive God’s salvation, anyone can be saved. That is the covenant of David.  That became a reality by Jesus Christ who was a descendant of David. Therefore, this is a certain salvation. It has completely no connection with what we do. It is salvation by the one sided grace of God.

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (I John 5:11,12)

“This life is in his Son. He who has the Son” (I John 5:11) in other words, those who believe in the Son, have life.”He who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”  (I John 5:12) This is by the Word of God’s promise. Our emotions have nothing to do about it. “He who has the Son has life;” (I John 5:11) It is free.

Do you accept and have assurance of God’s grace that you can experience “without cost”. (1)  According to the world’s economical theory, “without cost” (1) will definitely not obtain good results.  However, God is the most valuable, and he says he will give the best “without cost.” (1)  We only have to believe this truth, come before God, and enjoy this grace.  This is thought to be a very easy thing. However, for us who are used to being on good terms with this world’s thinking it is surprisingly difficult.  We question about God giving us grace without cost. We think that there is nothing more fearful than something that is free.  Then we often pay the price and use effort vainly and “spend money on what is not bread, and…labor on what does not satisfy.” (2)

However, God is saying to stop using such vain effort and to listen to God’s word.  If you “give ear and come to” (3) God, then “your soul may live.” (3) The nature of grace is that there is no cost, but in reality it was not completely without cost.  In reality for that God paid the price that we should have paid.  That was Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ died on the cross for us. That was because God loves us. Just like a mother who loves the child without conditions and raises him, God loves us, his children with no conditions and raises us up.  Then he fills us with the best things. The beginning of faith is to realize and experience God’s love. Are you coming before God and seeking this grace?

Lastly, let’s look at verse 5. “Surely you will summon nations you know not,and nations that you do not know you will hasten to you, because of the LORD your God,the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.”

“Nations you know not” (5) are the Gentiles. In the course of time, even the Gentiles will come to Israel and wish that some of their blessings will rub off onto them.  This grace will be such an abundant salvation. You are invited too to such huge blessings.  Today this invitation has been sent to you.  How will you reply to this?

In Matt. 22 “the kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who haven invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. …But they paid no attention and went off-one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them.” (Matt. 22:2-6) Then he told his servants to “go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone” (Matt. 22:9) they could find.  “So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.” (Matt. 22:10)

Please don’t reject the invitation of the king. Come before God, and experience the blessings that God gives.  If so, then “your soul may live.” (3)

Today let’s look at the last half of chapter 54 of Isaiah. In the first half of chapter 54 it said, “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide.” (2) That’s “because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.” (1)  Israel who was captured by Babylon was truly like a “desolate woman”, (1) but the Lord will in due time restore them and they “will spread out to the right and to the left.”(3) In today’s passage too it continues to talk about Israel’s restoration.

Ⅰ．God will make your walls of precious stones (Vs. 11,12)

First of all please look at verses 11 and 12. Here God promises to make Israel like precious stones.

“O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted,I will build you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with sapphires.  I will make your battlement of rubies,your gates of sparkling jewels,and all your walls of precious stones.”

“O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted” is Israel.  Israel was afflicted by and lashed by the storms of Babylon. However, the Lord says that he will make such an Israel into precious stones. Turquoise is a bluish-green stone. Sapphires and rubies I think you know. Their walls will be of precious stones.  God will make Israel like these precious stones.  It will be just like a beautifully dressed up bride. From head to foot she is decked up and brilliantly shinning. The rock that has been broken to pieces will be restored by God.

Please look at Rev. 21:1-2.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”

This is a scene of heaven. Heaven is truly like a bride dressed up for her husband. The prophecy that Isaiah saw was of heaven.  In other words, this isn’t only just a prophecy of Israel who was captured by Babylon being liberated and made into precious stones, but also at the end of the world God’s people, Christians too will be so. It is a two folded prophecy.

In the verses following Rev. 21:10 it says in more detail what the new Jerusalem is like. In verse 11 it says, “It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.” Verses 18 to 21 say, “The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.  The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl.  The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.” Heaven is such a place shining with precious stones. Christians in the course of time will inherit such a heaven.

How wonderful this is! Now for a while we may be afflicted by various problems and “lashed by storms.” (11) We may be only suffering and in the condition of not finding hope anywhere. However, God will surely comfort you. In due time, he will lead you to the heavenly kingdom which is like precious stones.

Ⅱ．A great peace (Vs. 13)

The second point is that your children will have great peace. Please look at verse 13.

“All your sons will be taught by the LORD,  and great will be your children’s peace.”

This is a wonderful promise! We all put ourselves aside and desire that our children become happy.  Our children will all “be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children’s peace.” (13) Now it may not be so. They may not now know why they are living, but when they realize that they are living for God’s joy and glory, then they will have joy and peace. In the course of time such a time will come.  “All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children’s peace.” (13)

Do your children have a great peace? Here it says, “be taught by the LORD.” (13)   For your children’s peace to be great they must “be taught by the LORD.” (13) Peace is not something that is obtained automatically.  It is the grace that is brought by being “taught by the LORD.” (13) Why do children rebel against their parents? Why are children anxious? Why are children selfish and self centered? It’s the age we live in…No! It is because they are not “taught by the LORD.” (13) If they are taught by the Lord, “great will be your children’s peace.” (13)

Ephesians 6:1-4 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  ‘Honor your father and mother’ –which is the first commandment with a promise-‘that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’ Fathers, do no exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”  How can children be happy and “enjoy long life on the earth”?  (Eph. 6:3) It is by obeying their “parents in the Lord”. (Eph. 6:1)Then the parents are commanded, “do no exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:4)

Looking back on the past, I exasperated my children a lot.  Raising children is not easy. Things don’t go the way you want them to.  However, even though while having such weaknesses, if we bring our children “up in the training and instruction of the Lord,” (Eph. 6:4) the Lord will give peace and will be responsible for bringing them up. Of course, this is not just going through the actions of reading the Bible and praying every day.   Here it says, “in the Lord.” (Eph. 6:1) This is in the Lord’s love and instruction. In any case, what is certain is when your children are taught by the Lord, “great will be your children’s peace.” (13) You may think that your child is still too young to understand, but in reality it is when a child is very small that is the most important time. It seems like they don’t understand at all, but in reality they are soaking it up.  Therefore, whether they understand or don’t understand, if you want them to have a great peace, you must seek to have them receive the Lord’s teaching. Those who think that it is too late because their children have already grown up, must not give up. No matter how big they have gotten if you pray that your child will walk in the Lord and grow, then surely that prayer will be answered.  “If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (I John 5;14) Therefore, no matter how old your child gets, don’t give up, but pray. In the course of time your child will look at his parents and your child too will for sure walk in the way of the Lord.

Ⅲ．In righteousness you will be established (Vs. 14-17)

The third point is “in righteousness you will be established.” (14) Please look at verses 14 to 17. I will read verse 14.

“In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you;you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed;it will not come near you.”

Here it insists that “Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear.” (14) That is because “In righteousness you will be established.” (14) “Righteousness” (14) is salvation. We “will be established”(14) by righteousness, by salvation. To be saved is to have a relationship with God.  The first man, Adam and Eve, sinned and fell short of the glory of God.  Even when God called out, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9) they weren’t able to answer, “Here I am” .but feared the face of the Lord and hid among the trees of the garden.  In other words, their relationship with God was completely severed.  This is spiritual death. This is hell. Hell is the world where God does not exist.  So there is no joy, and no hope. Constantly you are fearful about something.  Constantly you are anxious about something. However, when you believe in the Son, Jesus Christ, and you are saved of your sin, God’s light floods your dead soul, and it comes back to life. By the interchange with the life of God you are renewed. If God is with us, what do we have to fear? David confessed this, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” (Psalm 23:4) If God is with us, even though we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” (Psalm 23:4) we have nothing to fear.

In John Kuuan’s book, A life of thankfulness, 365 days, there is an essay, “Thankfulness from birth to death”. He wrote that there are people who complain with a feast sitting before them and there are people who are thankful with one slice of dry bread. There are people who even though they have been given health, bear a grudge against their environment. There are people who even though have don’t have both arms and legs, they are thankful. There are people who lost only one, but they are angry, and there are people who have lost two, but are thankful.  There are people who are despaired or take their life because they failed.  There are people who are thankful for all the things of their past and are preparing for their future.  There are people who quarrel with those criticize them, or do harm to them. There are people who love their enemies and are thankful. There are people who fear death. There are people who gratefully accept death.

We have many reasons for being thankful: thankful for breathing,        thankful for being able to walk, thankful for eating and sleeping, thankful for husband, wife, and children, thankful for success and failure, thankful for sickness and also health. In reality from the time we are born until the time we die, we have nothing more than thankfulness.

Such thankfulness is truly born from God being with us.  That’s why there are those for whom death is the end of everything and others who are able to gratefully accept death because even if they die God is with them. Therefore, to have a relationship with God is a greater joy than anything else, a blessing. That is “righteousness”. (14) That is salvation. Salvation is to be in a right relationship with God. Such a person has nothing to fear. “Terror will be far removed.” (14)

We live daily in fear. We worry about losing money, about health, about losing our job and losing family. We have such fears.  Besides such fears there are also uncertainties about natural disasters coming upon us.  However, in the midst of such fears, if you believe in Jesus Christ, all your sin will be forgiven and you can be in a right relationship with Jesus Christ. God will be with you. Therefore, you will have nothing to fear. “If God is for us…who shall separate us from the love of Christ?…In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:31,35,37)

Please look at verses 15 to 17. “If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing;whoever attacks you will surrender to you. See, it is I who created the blacksmithwho fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc; no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.

If anyone attacks Israel, on the contrary, they will surrender to Israel.  For example, Haman who appears in the book of Esther plotted to kill all the Jews and made a gallows seventy-five feet high to hang Mordecai. However, on the contrary, “they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.” (Esther 7:10)  God blesses those who bless Abraham and curses those who curse him. Therefore, if someone  is antagonistic towards Israel, then on the contrary, they will surrender to Israel. That is because Israel was redeemed by God and is the people of God.  It is because God is with them. No matter how much they are attacked, Israel will definitely not surrender.

Also no matter what new weapons the enemy has, it is God “who forges a weapon” (16) so such a weapon will be useless. No one can be antagonistic towards God. Therefore, no matter what happens they will never be shaken.  God is sovereign. He controls all so if we depend upon God there is nothing to fear.

Please look at the last part of verse 17.

“’This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,and this is the vindication from me.’declares the Lord.”

“This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD. (17)  The servant of the Lord are promised this blessing.  If you are the Lord’s servant, then you too are promised this promise. The problem is whether you are a servant of the Lord or not.   Also whether you have received the Lord’s righteousness or not.

Please open your Bibles to II Cor. 5:21.

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

God made his only son, Jesus Christ “sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (II Cor. 5:21)

Therefore, if you would like to receive God’s righteousness, you must believe in Jesus Christ who died on the cross for your sin as your Savior. If so, you can receive the righteousness of God. That righteousness has no conditions. It is offered to                    you. If you believe in Jesus and receive God’s righteousness, you will in the course of time receive the glory that is promised here. “In righteousness you will be established.” (14) Your children too will have a great peace. No matter what kind of fears you are in, you will definitely not be shaken. You will be able to continue standing firmly. God will always be with you and watch over you. What amazing grace! Please accept this grace. Believe in Jesus and receive God’s righteousness, and receive the blessing of this heritage. This salvation is being offered to you..