The Peaceful Kingdom

On a long plane flight the other day, I watched one of those beautiful documentaries about African cats—lions and cheetahs.  Their darling babies and family loyalty on one hand, and their struggles for survival on the other.  Those that prey on them and terrorize them (hyenas, rivals), and those on which they themselves prey.  When the “hero” of the story is a cheetah who needs to feed her babies, I struggle whether to root for her or for the beautiful, innocent deer that she’s pursuing in a life-or-death chase.

But one day that will change.  I’ve been reading through the book of Isaiah with its depths of doom and heights of ecstasy, and here at the end I welcome that famous line,

“The wolf and the lamb will feed together. 
The lion will eat hay like a cow…
In those days no one will be hurt or destroyed on my holy mountain.” (65:25)

I really look forward to getting up close with those beautiful animals!

But to be fair, we have to look back at the beginning of the chapter to see just who will be enjoying this new world of peace.  God says that those who have ignored Him and chosen to do what He despises are destined for destruction, starvation, and despair (65:11-14).  It is rather those who are truly God’s servants who will eat, drink, sing for joy, and and enjoy that beautiful new earth where peace and prosperity reign (65:13-25. 

I hope you’ll be there to enjoy it with me—by God’s grace.  It will be worth it all!

Maranatha!  Come Lord Jesus!