110. Know righteousness and salvation
Isaiah 51:7, 8 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their reviling. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation from generation to generation.
The promise of righteousness and salvation is given to those who hearken. When we listen to the Lord, that is, when we hear and believe the Gospel (hear with faith), then we know righteousness. When we know righteousness we will not fear what people will say to us; we will have no fear of man. When we believe the Gospel we know righteousness and we have no fear.
The reproach and reviling of people, and the people themselves, will be eaten up and disappear like a moth or a worm eats up clothing. In other words, “this, too, shall pass.” We may extend the fear of what people will say to any fears we have, for any of the fears we face will fade away; they do not last. The only thing to fear is what lasts forever, God and His judgment of eternal death. At the end of the day, we fear not them that kill the body; we are not afraid of anything temporary. Our present life and this world are short, mortal, and will end. God’s life never ends. God’s righteousness shall be forever; God’s salvation goes on to every generation world without end. We learn to trust in and rely on whatever is permanent. The righteousness and salvation of God are eternal. This we have, and we know it. The certain good news of this promise is that the righteousness and salvation is by God, of God, and belongs to God; it is “my” righteousness and salvation.It does not depend even .00l% on us. It is all God. And God is forever. Salvation is not just once and done; it is over and over and again and again, always needed and never ending. And by the way, we will be forever young and strong, healthy and well, energetic and full of life. That is permanence.