A Season of WaitingSýnishorn

Looking Forward

World peace. Is it a pipe dream this side of Jesus returning? How many war-torn countries are there, many of which are weary from years or even decades of fighting, insurrection, conflict. Our world is not only broken but also hostile.

Isaiah knew a world like this too as he looked ahead to the destruction of their kingdom and their soon exile to Babylon. Yet, God showed Isaiah that there’s hope found only in Him. He showed him Mount Zion, the place where Yahweh dwells (Isaiah 8:18, Psalm 74:2), as the chief mountain among all mountains. While there’s a number of theological viewpoints on this matter, what is unmissable in these verses is that ‘all nations will stream to it’ (v2, NIV) and want to be there. God’s showing Isaiah a glimpse of Revelation 7:9.

Isaiah was looking ahead to this utopian kingdom filled with peace and people from all people groups. In advent, we look forward to the coming of Jehovah Shalom, the Lord of Peace. Ephesians 2 shows glimpses of the unity that He’s already brought, but there’s still peacemaking to come where we’ll see Micah 6:6–8 in full swing – justice, mercy, and humility. This December, God’s calling us to emulate Jesus and be peacemakers in this world as together we walk in the light of the Lord.

World peace won’t be fully realised until Jesus returns, but we can all play a part in bringing peace to someone and something today. Who/what is God calling you to?

Written by Bree Bond