Jesus Is The Then, Now, And Not Yet

In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious,… – Isaiah 4.2, CSB

I don’t pretend to understand the prophets or the end times, at least now while I’m writing this. There is a temptation, as a pastor, to pretend to know everything in the Bible because others expect you to know it. I found myself, while spending time with Jesus this morning, feeling embarrassed before him that I didn’t know. I even confessed how dumb I felt because I had to read the thoughts from other followers of Jesus who know more than I do, so I could somewhat grasp what Isaiah 4 was about. I say this not as a therapeutic entry for myself but rather as an honest confession, praying that you will be encouraged to be just as honest before the Lord and others about where you are in your journey with Jesus. The whole “fake it ‘til you make it” approach that many profess to be of benefit is really a farce. The humility to confess what we don’t know actually frees us to learn from Jesus what he wants to reveal to us. So, what we don’t know yet, we can someday learn, should God desire for us to understand it (see Deuteronomy 29.29).

So, after confessing all of that before the Lord, and as I read Isaiah 4 this morning, along with the writings of other followers of Jesus who know more than I do about all of this, I concluded that it’s a then, now, and not yet prophetic writing. Isaiah was addressing the people of Judah about things they would experience, both of God’s judgment and of God’s restoration. I also see things that I can apply now and into the future in my walk with the Lord, looking at Jesus as the “Branch of the LORD” (Jeremiah 23.5; 33.15; Zechariah 3.8) who is both “beautiful and glorious” (Isaiah 4.2)  I can celebrate and worship God in eternal and heartfelt gratitude that it is he, and he alone, who has “washed away the filth” of my sin and “cleansed the bloodguilt” of my heart (Isaiah 4.4), leaving me forever holy in God’s sight (Isaiah 4.3). Because of the work of Jesus, the beautiful and glorious Branch of the LORD, I am now led and guided by the Holy Spirit, who is ever-present with me, both as a figurative “cloud of smoke by day and a glowing flame of fire by night” (Isaiah 4.5), resembling how he led the people of Israel for forty years through the wilderness. And I can see that the Lord has set up his forever “God with us that we might be with him” life that he desires with us along with his protection and care, both in the now and in the not yet, “for there will be a shelter for shade from heat by day and a refuge and shelter from storm and rain” (Isaiah 4.6). And while I can see all of this for myself, both now and for the future, I want to ask you if you do as well. 

Jesus is the True Vine, the beautiful and glorious Branch of the Lord, that we need to remain in, so that we may truly live in and have the abundant life he promises (John 15.1-8). Jesus is the one who brought the kingdom of heaven to earth and provided for us our holiness before God through his sacrificial death and resurrection from the dead. Jesus is the one who brought forgiveness of our sin and cleansing from our guilt so we could be in God’s presence forever, starting today. And Jesus is the one who made a way for us to be changed from sinners to saints, from distant from God to up close and personal children of God, bringing with that change in identity the personal protection and provision from our loving Heavenly Father. Do you see it? Do you know this to be true?

Jesus, thank you for being the promised beautiful and glorious Branch of the Lord. Thank you for making a way that leads to my forgiveness and right standing before the Lord in holiness. Thank you for making it possible for me to live forever in the presence of God. And thank you for leaving me and giving me your Holy Spirit to lead and help me along the way until I experience, in fullness, what you accomplished.

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