Beauty for Ashes

 Happy Sunday!

"As for those who grieve over Zion, God has sent me to give them a beautiful crown in exchange for ashes, To anoint them with gladness instead of sorrow, to wrap them in victory, joy, and praise instead of depression and sadness.  People will call them magnificent, like great towering trees standing for what is right. They stand to the glory of the Eternal who planted them."(Isaiah 61:3 Voice).

The Preacher said, "Everything on earth has its own time and its own season."(Ecclesiastes 3:1 CEV).  Since most of us have moved far away from farming, and agrarian society, and we can get summer fruits from South America all winter long, we tend to forget about seasons and times.  But seasons and times are really real.  When we lose a loved one we are shaken by this reality of time.  The Word says, "Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences. Christ’s death was also a one-time event, but it was a sacrifice that took care of sins forever. And so, when he next appears, the outcome for those eager to greet him is, precisely, salvation."(Hebrews 9:27-28 Message).

Don't miss this!  When we accepted Jesus and his payment for our sins, we don't have to fear death, or His imminent return.  Our judgement will not be the Great White Throne Judgement of sinners who refused to accept Jesus Christ.(Revelation 20:10-12).  Jesus took our judgement for sin.  We will be judged based on what we did after receiving salvation.  2 Corinthians 5:10 says, "For we must all appear and be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself and his attention to accomplishing]."(Amplified).

The Prophet Isaiah prophesied of the Second Coming of Jesus in Chapter 61:3, and described how all the things that plague us will be removed.  Sorrow, Sadness, and Depression all are replaced by Gladness. Praise, Victory, and Joy!  In case you're thinking we have to wait until Jesus returns to enjoy these things, the Apostle Paul wrote, "But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these kinds of things."(Galatians 5:22-23 Easy-to-Read Version).  Because we have The Holy Spirit we can enjoy Beauty for Ashes right now!  We can have joy in the midst of sorrow.  We can live in victory, and free of depression today.  That's Good News!

Love and prayers, Cynthia