Sermon
# 204 Series: Isaiah
Title: THE REREWARD
Text: Isaiah 58:8
Subject: The Security of God’s Elect
Date:
Sunday Evening – February 19, 1995
Tape
# R-2
Introduction:
The
church of God in this world is often compared to an army marching through
hostile, enemy territory. We must never
count on a moment’s peach from the world, the flesh, and the devil. If we were of the world, the world would
love it’s own. But we are not of the
world. Christ has called us out of the
world and out of darkness.
Consequently, the world hates us.
To seek your companions among worldlings is to take a traitor into your
bosom. I grant we are living in softer
das now than before, at least in our society.
Our enemies no longer use the sword, the stocks, or the stake. But do not be so foolish as to imagine that
darkness has become the friend of the light or evil the friend of
righteousness. The world is ever ready
to pounce upon the church. Satan is
ever endeavoring to destroy it. If not
by attack from without, them by corruption within. But his object and the object of the world is the destruction of
Christ, his church, and his gospel. We must each, as soldiers enlisted in the army of Christ,
under the blood-red banner of the cross, take up the battle for his truth and
his glory where
we live. We are honor bound to do so! We must never look upon our
life as a pleasure cruise in a ship of ease upon the sea of tranquility. Our
life is a
march, the march of an army through hostile, enemy
territory. Our text tonight addresses
us as such.
In
this verse of Holy Scripture the Lord God, speaking by the mouth of his
prophet, Isaiah, makes three promises to all who take up the banner
of the cross and engage in holy warfare with the world, the flesh, and the
devil.
1. In this world, God promises
every believer, every sinner who trusts the Lord Jesus Christ, light and
health, not
physical light and health, but spiritual light and spiritual health – “Then
shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth
speedily.”
This
is a prophetic promise, referring specifically to the coming of Christ who is
the Light of the world, by whose blood and righteousness chosen sinners are
made completely whole speedily, as quickly as they look to him in faith (Isa. 45:22).
When the light of the gospel, the light of
the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ shines in the heart, the light of
joy, and peace, and comfort shines in the soul.
God’s saints are people who walk in the light as he is
in the light – (I John 1:5-8). “Ye are
not in darkness!” “Ye are children of
light!”
Moreover, all who are in Christ, being
born of God and made partakers of the divine nature through grace have been
restored to life and health in Christ – “With his stripes we are healed!” “Ye are complete in him!”
In
this world, God promises every believer the light and life of his free grace in
Christ. We LIVE in him!
2. The second thing spoken of in
our text is a vanguard or advance guard.
Every marching army has a vanguard, or advance guard, that marches in the forefront leading all the rest, directing them in the way, and opening the way as they go. This is what God says to us, as we march through this world – “And thy righteousness shall go before thee!”
These
words do not refer to the righteous works or the righteous character of God’s
saints. Our righteousness does not go before us to prepare the way for us into
heavenly glory. Our righteous works
follow us there. But they do not go
before us! (Rev. 14:13).
The
words “Thy Righteousness” refer to the Lord Jesus Christ
and his righteousness which has been so thoroughly and completely imputed to us
that his righteousness is our righteousness – (Jer. 23:6). Indeed, Christ himself is “They
Righteousness!”
The
Lord Jesus Christ, our Righteousness is here said to “go before thee” for three reasons.
He goes before us…
3. The third thing promised in
our test is this – “The glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward.”
The
word “rereward” is not re-reward but “rear-ward.” It means, “The glory of the Lord shall bring up the rear,” or
“The glory of the Lord shall gather you up.”
Proposition: This is the promise that God makes to us by his
prophet – The Lord God will, by virtue of and by the power of his glory, gather all his
elect up to heaven; and not even one of them shall perish – This word of
promise, “The glory of the Lord shall gather thee up” is exactly the same thing
that our Savior said in John 10:28 – “I give unto them eternal life; and they
shall never perish!”
As
every marching army has its vanguard and its foot soldiers, so it is necessary
that every marching army have its rearward to protect,
defend, and gather up the weak, the wounded, and those who for one reason or another cannot
keep up the march and leg behind. Let me show you just two things about this promise,
wherein God declares his glory to be The Rereward of his church.
I. Here the Lord God promises to
take Care of And Protect The Weak and Feeble Among His Saints.
John Gill wrote, “He gathers his people
to himself. He protects and defends
them. He takes care of the weak and
feeble that are straggling behind… He brings them up, being the rereward, and
saves them.”
This promise is most particularly intended by God to
comfort and encourage those who are the least likely to be comforted by others
and the least to find comfort for themselves in his promises. It is a promise of grace not to those who
boldly march out front and are always in the thick of the battle, or to those,
who faithfully stay by the stuff, but to those who seem to themselves and often
seem to others to be useless weights and drains upon the church.
A. This is God’s Promise to You, Bro. And Sis. Fearful Heart.
Your faith is true.
You trust the Lord Jesus Christ.
But you are ever full of doubts and fears. Your faith ought to be strong, but it is weak. You live in great trouble of heart because
you have no assurance of a saving interest in Christ. You miss much happiness, and joy, and
peace. And I would do nothing to
encourage your fearfulness. Yet, I know
that…
Many in the fold of Jesus
Full assurance cannot boast,
Yet, according to His promise,
None of these can e’er be
lost.
By His merc deeply graven
On His hands their names
remain!
Some of God’s saints not only go through the Slough
of Despond, they carry it with them!
Yet, God is to you The Rereward.
Your faith may be only as a grain of mustard seed, but if you do ever so
slightly trust the Lord Jesus Christ, God says, “The glory of the Lord shall
gather you up!”
B. This promise is to you who
have a Very Low Estimate of Yourselves and Thing of Yourselves as a Hindrance
Rather Than a Help in The Cause of Christ.
I have found that usually those who have the lowest views of themselves and imagine that they are useless in the cause of Christ are the most useful. But, still they look upon themselves as being less than the least in the kingdom of God, at least logging stragglers in the army of heaven.
I
grant, my brother, my sister, you may be in the rear of the army. But if you trust Christ, if you follow the
Lord, you are in his ranks and he will as surely gather you up to heaven as he
did his Son, your Substitute!
C. Most particularly, I am sure,
This is God’s Promise To and Regarding Every Fallen Saint – “The glory of the Lord will
gather you up!”
Though
they have wondered from him, the Lord’s word is not a word of wrath, but of
grace. His voice is not the voice of
condemnation, but of consolation.
I
will do nothing to encourage you in sin.
But I do guarantee you this, a mother or father whose child has fallen
into evil and has forsaken his loving parents, would give anything to have
someone go in their name and say – “My love has not changed. The door is open. Come on home. And I am here to tell you, my fallen brother, my fallen sister, if you
are God’s, if you do indeed trust the Lord Jesus Christ, if you are washed in
his blood, robed in his righteousness, and born of his Spirit, no matter what
you have done, no matter how long, “The glory of the Lord will gather you up.”
1. Lot was a straggler; but the Lord
gathered him up!
2. David fell; but the Lord gathered
him up!
3. Peter denied him; but the Lord
gathered him up!
God
will correct you; but he will not cut you off.
He will discipline you; but he will not destroy you.
“Once a sinner near despair
Sought Thy mercy-seat by
prayer;
Mercy heard and set him free;
Lord, that mercy came to me!
Many days have passed since
then,
Many charges I have seen;
Yet, have been upheld till
now,
Who could hold me up but Thou?
Thou hast helped in every
need,
Yet more help, my Lord, I
need,
After so much mercy past
Thou will keep and hold me
fast!
II. That which is our rereward,
that which is our assurance that the Lord will yet gather us up into heaven is
His Glory! – “The
glory of the Lord is thy rereward.
The
glory of the Lord is what he is, it is his name, his attributes, and his
honor. It is the glory of God that will
gather us up at last. The glory of the Lord is…
A. His Sovereign Decree – “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious!
B. His Immutability (Mal. 3:6).
C. His Omnipotence (John 10:29-30).
D. His Atonement (Rom. 3:24-26).
E. His Grace (Eph. 1:13-14; 2:1-8).
F. His Faithfulness (I Thess. 5:24).
G. His Free Love (Hosea 14:4).
Application: I have done the best I can to describe our Savior as One worthy of your faith and love. Come to him now and prove for yourself all that I have taught you.