6/18/2018 What If Everything Was The Way Its Supposed To Be? We - PDF document

6/18/2018 What If Everything Was The Way It’s Supposed To Be? We can all envision a world in which justice prevails. But, are we dreaming the impossible dream? Why “Acting Justly” Isn’t A Futile Exercise The same OT prophets who preach justice here and now also promise that perfect justice will win out in the end! What we WISH were true will someday BECOME true forever! 1

6/18/2018 A “Child” With Strong “Shoulders”! The prophet Isaiah predicts that when Jesus reigns, justice will too! Isaiah 9:6-7, NIV For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders…He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. Why Perfect Justice Will Permanently Prevail When the government of the world rests on his shoulders, so will the Spirit of the Lord! Isaiah 11:2-5, NLT And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him–the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked. He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment. No More Injustice…No More War! All military weapons, training, and uniforms will become obsolete. Isaiah 2:3-4 & 9:5, NIV He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths…He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore…Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. 2

6/18/2018 Universal Peace! Much more than an absence of war, the Lord’s “shalom” will mean the presence of absolute harmony and delight! Isaiah 9:7 & 11:6-9, NLT His government and its peace will never end…In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all…The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm. Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord. Endless Adventures! The whole universe will be our playground and our university, forever beckoning us to come explore, discover, and enjoy! Isaiah 65:17-19 & Malachi 4:2, NLT “Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore. Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation…And the sound of weeping and crying will be heard in it no more…you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.” “Perfect” Will Just Keep Getting Better! Of the INCREASE of his government and of peace there will be no end! Isaiah 9:7, ESV All their life in this world and all their adventures had only been the cover and the title page. Now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read, which goes on forever, in which every chapter is better than the one before. C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle 3

6/18/2018 Act Justly! Love Mercy! Live NOW in light of THEN! Join the Lord in his work of setting the world aright, confident that your team is going to win! 4