January 21: ONE HAVING AUTHORITY
For as the earth brings forth its bud, As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. Isaiah 61:11
The message of divine restoration — that is, full and complete restoration by the power of God — will be heard in the world by all the nations before the return of Jesus. He said as much to His disciples following their inquiry (see Matthew 24:3,14).
The imagery of our opening verse takes us back to the Garden of Eden. Fresh from the hand of God, every plant and creature flourished. Among the things that [were] sown in it were the foundational truths given to His people regarding the source of life and the origin of creation, the consequence of death for failure to obey the Life-Giver’s life principles, the institutions of marriage and the weekly Sabbath, the blessings of abundant food and wholesome occupation, the reality of an enemy who lies, the gift of free choice, the God of love who came looking for His people after they sinned, and the promise of salvation. These things and more are found within the pages of the first three chapters of the Lord’s word. When correct understandings of these simple truths bud within the minds of those seeking God, the awesome message of divine restoration — the promise of the Creator — will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth from the lips of His messengers on the earth, His faithful people, that others may hear.
Current events make it evident that the earth is filled with those who despise the truth of God and actively work to block its proclamation. The work of our lying archenemy is easy to spot. Or is it? Among professed believers, he works more subtly by altering and twisting God’s word so that its meaning is misunderstood; he specializes in commandeering shepherds of the Lord’s flock to mislead them. The contradictory teachings have been accepted at the highest earthly levels, so that many of the places of training are perpetuating the enemy’s counterfeit doctrines, the worldwide cup full of abominations (Revelation 17:4). The spread of false doctrines is backed by great authority (Revelation 13:2), but they need not lead God’s people astray. The key is to fully rely on the only Eternal Authority, the Author of salvation as presented in the pages of His word. Such reliance makes messengers of His followers, with glorious and illuminating, indeed life-saving, messages. And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes (Matthew 7:28-29). Our soon-coming Savior will rescue all who choose to receive His forgiveness and His cleansing from sin and error by faith in His word.
After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. Revelation 18:1
Dig deeper: Psalm 56:5; Proverbs 19:3; Ezekiel 34:6-8; Luke 17:14; 1 Corinthians 15:24; 2 Timothy 4:3; Titus 1:9; 2 Peter 2:18, 20; 3:16