MY FAITH LOOKS UP

“LOOK TO ME, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other” – Isaiah 45:22

However rough the path or tough the times may be, MY FAITH LOOKS UP to GOD, Who says: “LOOK TO ME, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other” (Isa.45:22). If there was ever a time for our faith to look up to God and draw direction, strength, and inspiration, it is NOW – a time of trials, not just for individuals, but for the entire human race! Through the ongoing shakings of the nations, GOD is drawing the attention of humanity from trivialities of temporal existence to more enduring and eternal realities. He demands that the “ends of the earth” take away their gaze from the world’s distracting “idols” and look to Him – the Eternal Creator of all being (v.22).

There is a divine shaking and shuffling of virtually all of humanity’s carnal ‘backbones’: political, economic, financial, social, and religious structures; health, educational, entertainment, recreational and travel systems are collapsing. The world’s Egyptian and Babylonian systems are experiencing strange ‘tsunamis’ prior to the great and terrible Day of the Lord: “The Lord also will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; the heavens and earth will SHAKE; but the Lord will be a shelter for His people, and the strength of the children of Israel” (Joel 3:16). And again: “For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will SHAKE heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will SHAKE all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts” (Hab.2:6-7).

The shakings of the nations shall test human allegiances and separate the wheat from the chaff: “In that day a man will LOOK to his Maker, and his eyes will have respect for the Holy One of Israel. He will not look to the altars, the work of his hands; He will not respect what his fingers have made, nor the wooden images nor the incense altars” (Isa.17:7-8). What we focus on will be the secret of survival and distinction. The Psalmist declared: “My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct it to You and I WILL LOOK UP” (Psa.5:3); “I WILL LIFT UP MY EYES to the hills – from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth” (Psa.121:1-2); and “UNTO YOU I LIFT MY EYES, O You who dwell in the heavens” (Psa.123:1). Beloved, who or what is the focus of your attention?

This is the Messiah’s Model: “LOOKING UNTO JESUS, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb.12:2). This season of celebrating Jesus’ death and resurrection is an opportunity to draw inspiration from the passion and love of He who loves us with an everlasting love (Jer.31:3). As we look up to the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith, join me in this Hymn of Consecration, Faith and Victory:

“My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine! Now hear me while I pray, take all my guilt away; O let me from this day be wholly Thine.

May Thy rich grace impart strength to my fainting heart, my zeal inspire; as Thou hast died for me, O may my love to Thee pure, warm, and changeless be, a living fire.

While life’s dark maze I tread, and griefs around me spread, be Thou my guide; bid darkness turn to day, wipe sorrow’s tears away, nor let me ever stray from Thee aside.

When ends life's transient dream, when death’s cold, sullen stream shall o'er me roll, blest Savior, then in love, fear and distrust remove; O bear me safe above, a ransomed soul.”

Beloved, as your Faith looks UP rather than down, “You shall not be ashamed or disgraced forever and ever” (Isa.45:17b)!