Turn To The Kingdom That Is At Hand

Isaiah chapter 30 is an amazing chapter...

" 'Ah, stubborn children,' declares the LORD, 'who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for my direction, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame, and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation. For though his officials are at Zoan and his envoys reach Hanes, everyone comes to shame through a people that cannot profit them, that brings neither help nor profit, but shame and disgrace.'..." - Isaiah 30:1-5 ESV

The Bible shows us mindsets, doesn't it? It reveals the middle ground we can have a tendency to stand on that can turn quickly into a perilous place.

As a believer we are nomads. Our home is Heaven. Nomads live a certain way but Eygpt can begin to look attractive at times. Stability. Opportunity. Conformity that has acceptance.

This morning another passage seems to be a fitting contrast...

"Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.' " - Mark 1:14-15 ESV

Turn because God's kingdom is close by. The time for running away is over. Now is the time to draw near to the One who is drawing near to you.

Just one thought sparked from reading a chapter in Isaiah. I plan to read and reread this chapter through the day so that the mindsets that are expressed become familiar to me. Then if they pop up in my thinking I can 'turn to the kingdom that is near me' and not spend hours, days, weeks or years 'adding sin unto sin' in a frame of reference that provides no real relief.

"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;" - 1 Peter 2:11 KJV

"...they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city." - Hebrews 11:13b-16 ESV

Nomads. That is what we are. Heaven is our real home. This is only a temporary dwelling place... a season of life.

God, Keep our focus. Help us to navigate our wants and desires in holiness. Thank you for setting a place for us at Your table and giving us eternal security in our relationship with You.

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