What a Change!

 

ÒThe wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatriceÕ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.Ó (Isaiah 11:6-9)

 

The prophet Isaiah here describes the effects and results of the amazing operations of GodÕs grace upon the hearts and lives of chosen, redeemed sinners in Christ. He here describes the peace and tranquility of ChristÕs kingdom in this world. Grace produces peace. Grace makes sinners peaceable. Where the Prince of Peace reigns there is peace.

 

The church and kingdom of God is a peaceable kingdom. — Christ who is our peace has slain the enmity that once existed between his people in this world and he makes us one (Ephesians 2:13-16; Colossians 3:10-11).

 

The wolf no longer threatens the lamb; and the lamb no longer fears the wolf. ÒBehold,Ó said the saints of Saul, Òhe prayeth!Ó — Those who are in the ark, Christ Jesus, like the creatures that went into the ark with Noah, live together in peace. They lie down together in the church of God. A little child is made their pastor and leads them. They feed upon the green pastures of gospel truth. The sucking child, the newborn babe of GodÕs kingdom shall not be harmed by the old serpent. The weaned child, weaned from his own righteousness, shall not be harmed by the den of iniquity: self-righteous, will-worship, works religion. And GodÕs church in this world is as safe and secure as it is pleasant and peaceable. — ÒThey shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountainÓ (Romans 8:35-39).

 

What a change grace has made in our lives! We were, and are, all of us by nature, wild and dangerous brute beasts. Grace has changed us into peaceful, helpful, pleasant children of God.

 

The means by which this great change is accomplished is the knowledge of the Lord (v. 9; 2 Corinthians 4:3-6). By the preaching of the gospel, God the Holy Spirit causes the light of the glory of God, beaming forth in the face of the crucified Christ, to shine into the dark hearts of poor, lost sinners, creating life and faith in the objects of his grace. Thus, that salvation, which he gave to his elect in Christ before the world began, is brought to light by the gospel (2 Timothy 1:9-10).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

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