- 67. Comfort, Comfort
Isaiah 40:1,2 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
God promises comfort for the Church, all the believers in Christ. Comfort is a settling of the soul, a calming of the spirit, and alleviation for the body. The comfort promised is a result of the coming of the Messiah to die for all sin and rise again to give life to all.
Restlessness, disturbance, turmoil, pain, suffering and stress are the result of sin, the original sin from Adam and the actual sins of human beings. If life is not perfect, comfortable and stress-free it is our own fault, our own sin. We have nobody to blame but our own sin and guilt. I am the cause of all troubles, maybe not directly, but I am the sinner. If life were fair I would be incinerated: that would be fair justice for then I get what I deserved. I, the sinner, earned those wages. A stressful life should lead me to admit my fault and confess my sin; and not blame someone or something else.
I am desperately in need of comfort. The good news is: God gives comfort through Jesus Christ. God says, “Comfort ye my people!” Because of Christ, the Lord can assuredly proclaim: “My, son, my daughter, you have comfort from me. You are comfortable. Be at ease; be refreshed. Let me take on all your stresses and problems. I am responsible now.”
Take comfort because your warfare is accomplished. It is finished; it is over and done; Jesus won. The resurrection of Jesus seals it all and makes comfort yours forever. War is strife. There is no more need for striving and struggling. He is risen; the battle is done. Exult in the victory and enjoy the comfort of peace.
Take comfort because your iniquity is pardoned. When sin is forgiven, peace, calm, and comfort come to reign in the soul. There is no more striving to be good enough to be acceptable to God. There is no more struggling to deal with guilt and shame. There is no more punishment for sins. There is no more death looming in front of us. There is no more fear or worry. Now that is comfort: God declares it; God promises it; God gives it free for Jesus’ sake.