Lift Up Your Eyes to the Heavens

Photo by Robin D. Fish, Jr.

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“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but My salvation will be forever, and My righteousness will never be dismayed” (Isaiah 51:6).

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

It seems a fitting text for today, given the recent solar eclipse. Judging from news reports and social media, there were a lot of people who were “lifting their eyes up to the heavens.” Hopefully, they did so with ISO approved safety glasses.

Throughout history, total eclipses have caused a wide variety of reactions, including curiosity, awe, superstitious fear, and impending doom. It seems this last one is no exception. Some people predicted that this eclipse would signal the end of the world, since it’s been exactly 70 years since the modern nation of Israel was established. Others have speculated that it’s a precursor to September 23, when the constellation Virgo appears to “give birth” to the planet Jupiter, which they interpret to fulfill the prophecy of the woman in Revelation 12:1-5—a terrible interpretation even before one reads the verses in context.

Some people shared a meme on Facebook about how nice it would be if people were as eager for and as diligent in preparing for Christ’s return as they were for this year’s eclipse. That’s good advice. And that’s probably good advice for us today, too. So, let’s get back to text. While the total solar eclipse of 2017 is not directly connected to the end times, our text for today is.

“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but My salvation will be forever, and My righteousness will never be dismayed” (Isaiah 51:6).

One purpose of God’s directive to “lift up your eyes to the heavens” is that we might see the destruction of the world as we know it, to see “the heavens vanish like smoke.” One might call this a “Law-look” toward the heavens, a warning of the justly deserved impending judgment of God upon a sinful world.

But this negative aspect of the end times is only part of the perspective we should have. Almost the same words appear in Luke 21:28, where they direct us to recognize also the positive aspect of the end times: “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” That redemption is achieved through the person and work of Jesus Christ. One might call it “a Gospel-look” toward the heavens. As Christians, we look to Christ’s return not in fear and trepidation, but longingly and expectantly, waiting for our deliverance.

The main reason for this impression is, no doubt, the twofold reminder about the triumph of God’s “righteousness” and “salvation.” Verse 5 assures us that they’re near, they’re coming, they’re on the way. Verse 6 assures us that, once here, God’s “righteousness” and “salvation” are final, for keeps, permanent. Heaven and earth may pass away, but God’s “righteousness will never be dismayed,” God’s “salvation will be forever.”

The Lord has a word of encouragement and reassurance for His faithful, those “who pursue righteousness,” those “who seek the Lord.” So often the faithful do not see triumph. Their lives are more frequently filled with trouble and defeat, even when they seek the Lord with zeal and determination. The believing Jews, who would have originally read these words while captive in Babylon, had no sense of victory or glory. Their homeland stood in ruins; they were not free to return. The glory of David had faded to only a memory. They may have questioned whether God had deserted them. Perhaps they asked how the promise to Abraham (Genesis 12) could ever come to pass. If Judah became extinct in Babylon, how could all nations of the earth be blessed through Abraham and his descendants? Perhaps they wondered how the great descendant of David could arise if they were captives of Babylonian power. Everything must have seemed hopeless.

While we may not experience the same set of circumstances, believers through the centuries have faced similar dark and dreary days. Those who pursue righteousness and seek the Lord often do not move from triumph to triumph, but trial and trouble. At best, we seem to have our moments of happiness, but then we collapse again in guilt, fear, and doubt. Our conscience shakes us. We are sinful creatures, and our sinful human nature frustrates us. We cannot take it off and hang it up in a closet as we do our clothes. It’s part of us and it continues to plague us daily. Like the Jews of Babylon, we need reassurance. In these verses, God assures us His faithful, that the deliverance He promised is not far away.

Through Isaiah, the Lord directs His people to return to the story of Abraham and Sarah. Both left their homeland and traveled to a far distant land because God invited them to go and promised great things. He promised that Abraham would become a great nation and that all people on earth would be blessed through him. But the reality appeared so different. Abraham had no children. Sarah was barren. Both were old and past the age of having children.

Yet God did not fail to make it all happen as He said. Even though Sarah laughed at the promise of a child, God fulfilled His promise. The descendants of Abraham and Sarah, who were captives in Babylon, were to remember the way God fulfilled His promises to their ancestors. God keeps His promises, contrary to all common sense and logic. By faith we are also descendants of Abraham. We are cut from the same rock, the same quarry. When our world seems barren and without hope, remember how God fulfilled His promises in the past. He will not fail to fulfill all of them now, even if it may appear impossible.

The Jews in Babylon may have thought that any hope of a return to Jerusalem remained an impossible dream. Their once glorious city lay in ruins. During the period of captivity, the Promised Land remained nothing but a wasteland. Yet God promised to have compassion and to bring joy, gladness, thanksgiving, and the sound of singing again to His people. The faithful were not to despair. They were to listen to the promises of God, because God wanted to reinforce their faith with His promises. The deliverance He promised drew nearer. God promised, “My righteousness draws near, My salvation has gone out.”

God’s Word and restoration are not restricted to Israel, but will touch a wide range of nations. “The coastlands hope for Me, and for My arm they wait,” He adds. A great multitude will be gathered from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, who will one day stand before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes of Christ’s righteousness, crying out, “Salvation belongs to our God and to the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9-10).

Verse 6 indicates the blessings God intends for all people: salvation and righteousness. God declares sinners right and holy. Through faith in that declaration, they are therefore saved from the consequences of sin—death and damnation. Both salvation and righteousness are God’s. They do not come by human effort or intelligence. They are, instead, a gift that can come only from God. God’s wonderful and gracious declaration and its consequences endure. Even the earth and the heavens will disappear and vanish but not God’s righteousness and salvation. They are forever!

God’s salvation and righteousness come to you in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God. Jesus lived the perfect, righteous life that you could not live. On the cross, He exchanged His righteousness for your sin. Jesus redeemed you, lost and condemned persons, purchased and won you from all sin, from death, and from the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and His innocent suffering and death, that you may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity.

In Holy Baptism, Jesus clothed you with His perfect righteousness and made you an heir of eternal life. Baptism works the forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare. Through daily contrition and repentance, the Old Adam in you is drowned and dies with all sins and evil desires, that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever. In the Lord’s Supper, Christ’s feeds you His very body and body, giving you forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.

The Lord’s promise is sure. His Word of righteousness and salvation is eternal. “Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but My salvation will be forever, and My righteousness will never be dismayed.” You are forgiven for all of your sins.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.