- 59. From Desert to Joy
Isaiah 35:1,2 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God.
The wilderness and the solitary place is the human heart without a knowledge or relationship or faith in God. Without God, man is really alone (even though God gave him a wife). Humans try to fill the emptiness with all kinds of worldly things and people; nothing but God can lastingly fill the hungry, quench the thirsty, or satisfy the inner longing. The soul is a desert, filled only with angst. The sinner is a zombie, a walking dead man, and he can do nothing about the emptiness, dryness and lifelessness within.
God promises that the desert of the soul will be glad and rejoice, because it will blossom abundantly with joy and singing. This life-giving joy comes in when the Spirit implants faith through the Gospel. What was dry and parched is now lush and verdant. If we could only see the difference Jesus makes to the empty soul we would emotionally be filled with joy all the time. But emotions are temporary; they come and go. However, the joy of the Lord is deep and lasting, even when our emotions are not sensing it.
The Lord tries to make us see the difference by using the picture of turning a desert land into green pastures and fertile crops. This metaphor helps us to see the glory and excellency of our God by faith. Jesus came into our world to change us forever. Jesus comes into our hearts every day to change us forever. Jesus will come to earth again to change the universe and make it fit for eternity. For today, He leads me beside still waters and green pastures every time I hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. Believe the promise and enjoy the blessing.