HOW LONG?

 

     Whirrr, my electric mixer rotated the beaters. The cake was out of the oven and cooled down, so the time had come to mix the ingredients for the frosting. Five birthdays were celebrated this week with two cakes.

     Cream cheese, butter, lime juice, powdered sugar, and a dash of salt were mixed thoroughly in a bowl. Then I added a drop or two of green food coloring for the St. Patrick's Day birthday girl, Naomy, my daughter-in-love.

     The kids all looked my way in anticipation. They had already helped themselves to a chocolate birthday cake for my daughter, Audrey; my son, Jonathan; my grandson, Logan; and myself. So they were curious to see another cake was in the making.

     "Nana, how long until we can have a piece?" asked my 6'2" grandson.

     "Well, we just finished our meal and one cake, so we will wait a while," I replied with a knowing grin.

     None of us likes to wait for a good thing. We cheat a little on Christmas Eve and open one gift each before bed. When making cookies, we taste the batter while we whip it up. But there are good things that are not luxuries like safety, peace, love, enough to eat, and an end to conflicts.

     In Isaiah, a night watchman is asked, "How long until daybreak? How long will this night last?"

     During times of peace, a night watchman monitors the streets after dark, looking out for the safety of the citizens. During wartime, a watchman looks out for the enemy's movements and reports their intel. But this watchman is the voice of the prophet Isaiah, who foretells future events that God has revealed to him.

     In prophecy, morning refers to new beginnings or times of prosperity and peace. Evening and nighttime refer to desperate times, times of bondage, aggression, or times of lack.

     There are times, especially in the last decade, when I have grieved over the state of our nation and events going on around the world. Too many conflicts and human suffering. I have cried out to God, How long will this be permitted? When will good men and women stand up and put a stop to these things? When will our prayers be answered? Who will save those enslaved and wrongfully imprisoned?

     The prophet answered and said, "Morning is coming." We will have times of reprieve, but we will also have more of the night. Just as the people of old have dealt with treachery and bad leaders who cared more about filling their own purses than serving their subjects, we see the same pattern today.

     Nations rise in power, territories change hands, wars ravage cities, and their citizens carry the burden of living in want or leaving as refugees to spare the lives of their families.

     The Morning Star is the One we are looking for. When will this night end? How long until the morning? How long until honor, compassion, respect, prosperity, and safety return to the whole earth?

     It is not enough to see our own nation flourish. I desire to see everyone have the ability to enjoy peace, safety, food, and health with a roof over their heads. When will the earth see civil relationships between neighbors, countries, and their leaders?

     Let go of the greed for power and riches. These two fuel conflict and wars. This fetish to gain control over others without ever considering their welfare causes divisions between families and best friends, which deteriorates into a callousness in human interaction to the detriment of us all.

     Oh God, when will this treadmill end? Will we ever learn that apart from you and your character, we are in a state of decline? Enlightened by technology and knowledge, we know what has gone on in the past and what transpires around the globe, yet we remain ignorant of how far we have fallen spiritually when we are out of touch with God.

     The morning is coming. Refreshings bring us closer to knowing who we are, to being in tune with our Creator, but when we are fat, content, and satisfied, we ride the same roller coaster down again into depravity, too full of ourselves to see where we are headed.

     Earth staggers like a drunk, sways like a shack in a high wind. Its piled-up sins are too much for it. Isaiah 24:20 (MSG). Then, in the next verse, That is when God will call on the carpet rebel powers in the skies and rebel kings on earth. They'll be rounded up like prisoners in a jail, and then sentenced and put to labor.

     How long will these evildoers get away with terrible crimes against humanity? The morning will come when God-of-the-Angel-Armies will take over, ruling from Mount Zion and Jerusalem, Splendid and glorious before all his leaders, says the prophet in Isaiah 24:23 (MSG).

     We must live in reverence of the Lord. First, seek forgiveness and repentance for sins. Confess that Jesus is the Son of God, who came to take away the curse of sin and death on us. 

     Then, listen to the Holy Spirit as he guides daily. Learn about God: read the Bible. God wants to clarify his expectations so we fully understand him and how to live our best lives, flourish, and reach our destiny. The truth found there will teach us the moral laws and commands necessary for human interactions. 

      During our party, my grandchildren wondered, 'How long until the cake is served?' They were ready and expectant for something good and sweet to eat. 

     But each day, I wonder when our Help will come. I look for the coming of the Messiah and God's goodness to end all evil influence. I long to experience the rebirth of God's original design: harmony and beauty. 

     How long? 

     The watchman replied, "Morning is coming, but for now, it is night." 

     Our work is cut out. Remain faithful to God and reach out in love to the world around us. But be encouraged... 

     Morning is coming.