His Perfect Love

Matt VanderVen: Next on His Perfect Love, see what happens when you reject Jesus Christ. As we close the book tonight, the theme of the book of Isaiah was holiness, and God ends the book with a reminder for every human being that reads this book. You have a choice. It's this simple: don't let your sin keep you from God's love. God loves you, and He wants to save you.

Present yourself to Jesus and be willing to let His blood wash you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness, from all sin. Otherwise, you're going to face the eternal judgment that nothing in death or this life can ever escape.

Guest (Male): Great to have you along as we present His Perfect Love and our final study in Isaiah. Pastor Matt VanderVen will join us in a second. Throughout this book of Isaiah, we've seen how important holiness is to God, and it ends with a reminder of the choice before each of us. Will you allow your sin to keep you from God and His love, or will you embrace the forgiveness available in Christ? Let's thoughtfully consider that now. We'll start off in chapter 65.

Matt VanderVen: Look back at verses 17 and 18. "For behold, I create a new heaven and a new earth, and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind." Because otherwise, that could be torment. There is no torment in heaven. There is no torment because if you and I are faced with a holy God and we see the truth—remember it says we see dimly in a mirror now? That's what the New Testament Scriptures say, that we see our Lord dimly in a mirror. One day, when we are face to face, we will see clearly. We'll see Him as He is and as we always ought to have seen Him. That's what the Scriptures teach.

One day, we will stand before Him. When we stand before Him in that presence, every one of us is going to go right down to our knees, worship Him, kiss His feet, be thankful, love Him, and hold Him tighter than you've ever held to anything or anyone in your life. We will begin to just cry out to Him. I have no doubt that I'm going to say, "Lord, I could have done more. I could have done more. I could have done this or that. Why was I focused on the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life? Why did I monkey with that? Why was it a waste of my time?"

If I had to live in heaven for eternity thinking about all the things I could have done for the kingdom of God and didn't, that would become very tormenting. I would be tormented in that because I'd be constantly thinking about all the ways I blew it. God is saying, "No, the focus is no longer on what you did; the focus is now who we are together. It's family, and you're home." We're together, and that is the focus: Jesus, you, and the relationship. That's a good God. That's a merciful God.

That's why He can say, "But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create, for behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing and her people a joy." He's describing the kingdom age. "I will rejoice in Jerusalem and joy in my people. The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, nor the voice of crying." Joy will take the place of crying. Joy will take the place of sorrow. Joy will take the place of depression, anxiety, worry, sickness, disease, and death.

Nor will there be an old man who has not fulfilled his days. This is beautiful. Look what he tells us about the millennial age, the millennial kingdom age of a thousand years: "For the child shall die 100 years old." Length of days will be like it was previously. Remember back in the times of the patriarchs and the ancients, how they would live many years? "But the sinner being 100 years old shall be accursed." That means if you died at 100 years of age in the kingdom age, you had a terrible life. You were terribly unfaithful in that kingdom age.

I think the generation of people will see that the thousand years will be a time where people can live that long if they're righteous, walking with Jesus, and not turning to bad things. We're going to see the human lifespan go back up again like it was before the antediluvian period—before the flood. "They shall build houses and inhabit them." Verse 21 talks about the people that are there. We're going to come back with Jesus in glorified bodies. We're certainly not building houses, but the people in the nations on the earth when Christ returns will be inhabiting the earth and building houses.

Have you ever wondered what it's going to be like in the millennium? Is somebody going to build a house? Yes, and they're going to inhabit them. They're going to plant vineyards and eat their fruit during that thousand-year millennial reign. "They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat. For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of my people, and my elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands." No longer are you going to work so hard and strive, only to have somebody else steal it, take it from you, or abuse your hard labor. Can anybody relate to that anymore in the employee-employer relationship?

"My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain." Work is good if we're able to. "Nor bring forth children for trouble." So are they going to have babies in the millennial reign? That's what it says right here. These are the things that we wonder. I get these questions often. The best commentary for the Bible is the Bible. "They shall not labor in vain nor bring forth children for trouble, for they shall be the descendants and blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them."

There's going to be tremendous safety and blessing during that time. "And it shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer." Before they can even pray in the millennial reign, before you can say, "But Lord," He will answer, "Yes?" How awesome is that? I get excited about that one. We're going to be watching all of this because we're the body of Christ—the glorified saints that have come back with Jesus in Revelation chapter 19. We're in the millennial reign, watching this.

Because I'm a bit of a stinker, I'm going to go, "Watch. That guy's about to pray. Watch how Jesus goes, 'Yes.'" I'm going to be that guy who taps you and says, "Watch this one. I've been seeing him all day. He looks like he's struggling. Watch." Then Jesus is going to go, "Yes." That's going to be awesome. I'm going to be that guy. Maybe I won't; maybe the Lord will say, "No, you're not." "It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain," says the Lord.

Chapter 66 begins, "Thus says the Lord." In this final chapter, he rebukes people for acting one way outwardly while being different inwardly. It's almost like the Jewish people were atheists or agnostics. They liked religion, but they didn't like lordship. They liked the outward things, being seen, and making professions. I was talking with a brother recently, Pastor Ted, about these cults. There was one that opened up where it's like Catholicism on steroids—hyper-Catholicism. I watched a video because he knew someone who was going. They say, "We seal you, we seal you." No, the Holy Spirit seals the born-again believer. Man doesn't seal another man.

They walk around with this cloth in a circle, and it was so ritualistic. Young people are flocking to this in upstate New York. This is the new craze right now. It's all ritualistic, and they like that. I think about the hippie movement and the Jesus movement. We wanted to get away from stuff where you had to go in a little box and tell some man everything. We thought, "Who are you? You're not Jesus. I have one mediator, and that's the man Christ Jesus—the God-man." It's going 180 degrees again, back to this hyper-ritualistic Catholicism.

They have the gowns, the robes, and the windows. The ceremonies are nothing like anything in the Bible; they don't even read the Bible. They say, "This is what we need to do to be saved; we have to follow these rituals." This is what was going on in Judah. It was a hypersensitivity to religion, but nothing inward in regards to a relationship with Christ. "Thus says the Lord: 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.'" He begins with a rebuke. Heaven is His throne, and this earth that we live on is just His footstool. That just clears things up.

"Where is the house that you will build me? And where is the place of my rest?" Did I not give you any wood or materials you have? You took it from my creation. "For all these things my hand has made, and all those things exist," says the Lord. "But on this one will I look: on him who is poor." In the Hebrew, that's the word we would use today for humility. He looks for those who are humble and of a broken spirit, who tremble at His word. "He who kills a bull as if he slays a man." He's saying you kill a bull like you're slaying a man, without love or relationship.

At that point, God is saying you're just a murderer. You're basically taking animals and murdering them because your heart's not there and you're not sacrificing unto the Lord. You're doing it ritualistically, and because there's nothing behind it in your heart, you're just murdering an animal. That's what God's saying. It's all rituals. "He who sacrifices a lamb as if he breaks a dog's neck." All these things were according to the law of Moses, but if your heart isn't with the Lord, these sacrifices are an abomination. He basically calls them murder.

"He who offers a grain offering as if he offers swine's blood; he who burns incense as if he blesses an idol. Just as they have chosen their own way and their soul delights in their abomination, so I will choose their delusions." That's exactly what I saw in that video. "And bring their fears on them, because when I called no one answered, when I spoke they did not hear; but they did evil before my eyes and chose that which I do not delight." God says He's going to bring this delusion to you. Let this penetrate your heart.

Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at His word. "Your brethren who hated you, who cast you out for my name's sake, said, 'Let the Lord be glorified that we may see your joy,' but they shall be ashamed." The sound of the noise from the city, a voice from the temple, the voice of the Lord who fully repays His enemies. "Before she was in labor she gave birth; before her pain came she delivered a male child. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such a thing? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children." Jerusalem will be restored in a moment. There will be no labor. God will restore Israel in a moment at His second coming.

He did that already for Cyrus. Think about the captivity in Babylon. He brings them out at the end of 70 years in a moment. Cyrus gives a decree, the Jewish people are free to go back, and then he funds the rebuilding of it. "Shall I bring to the time of birth and not cause delivery?" says the Lord. "Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?" says your God. "Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad with her, all you who love her; rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her; that you may feed and be satisfied with the consolation of her bosom, that you may drink deeply and be delighted with the abundance of her glory."

For thus says the Lord, "Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream." Speaking of the Jewish people, he says, "Then you shall feed on her sides and shall be carried and be dangled on her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you, and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem." What a beautiful promise as he finishes the book of Isaiah. "When you see this, your heart shall rejoice, your bones shall flourish like grass; the hand of the Lord shall be known to His servants and His indignation to His enemies."

"For behold, the Lord will come with fire and with His chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by the sword the Lord will judge all flesh, and the slain of the Lord shall be many. Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go to the gardens after an idol, in the midst eating swine's flesh"—he's again calling out the idolatries and rituals—"and the abomination of the mouse, shall be consumed together," says the Lord. All this will be fulfilled before His second coming with the rebirth of Jerusalem. He's talking about the judgment of all the idolatry on this earth, which will happen at the end of the great tribulation.

Verse 18 says, "For I know their works and their thoughts." God can see our thoughts. "It shall be that I will gather all the nations and tongues, and they shall come and see my glory. I will set a sign among them, and those among them who escape I will send to the nations—to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, who draw the bow." He's talking about the entire world. If you were to look on a map, Tarshish, Pul, and Lud are like the four corners. He's talking about the whole world.

"To Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off who have not heard of my fame nor seen my glory." This will all happen at the second coming. "And they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the Lord out of all the nations, on horses and in chariots." So all the Jewish people are going to return to Jerusalem. "And in litters"—that's a wagon. They're going to be coming back in wagons. "On mules and on camels to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the Lord, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord. And I will also take some of them for priests and Levites."

If you wondered if there's going to be priests during the millennial reign, you have your answer. He's describing the end of all things. It's going to be a rebuilt temple because you're going to need a temple for the priests. We already knew that because of Ezekiel. Verse 22 declares, "For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before me, says the Lord, so shall your descendants and your name remain." "And it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before me," says the Lord. Everybody's going to come to worship God.

But what's going to happen to the wicked? He's talked about the righteous in this new era when He comes again and everything is dealt with. But what about the remaining people that are wicked and evil? In verse 24, "And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses of the men who have transgressed against me. For their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched." What does that sound like to you? "They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh." For those who thought only the New Testament talked about a lake of fire and eternal torment, this was written 740 years before Jesus Christ even walked this earth. We look back and understand exactly what it's talking about.

The wicked will end in the place of everlasting judgment. He's telling us about the lake of fire for all who fail to put the blood of Christ before a holy God. The greatest sin that a human can ever commit is to reject the blood of Jesus Christ. That's the greatest sin a human can ever commit. No one ends up in the lake of fire due to any other sin. Please understand what I'm saying so this doesn't get misunderstood. No one ends up in the lake of fire due to any other sin than the rejection of God's atoning blood.

Does that make sense to everybody here tonight? That's the only sin that sends you to the lake of fire. Every other sin, if you come to Jesus Christ and you pray for repentance, has been forgiven, and He no longer sees it. The only sin that cannot be forgiven in this life is the rejection of Jesus Christ. Why? Go right back to what we've been reading tonight, and it'll all make sense now. This whole book culminates and makes sense because the theme has been about holiness.

What was the biggest thing that He said to Judah? He said the Gentiles aren't doing this, but my own people are disrespecting me because they're worshipping pagan gods when they know there's only one true God. To disrespect God in such a way as to reject that gift of salvation is the ultimate sin. All the sins all over the entire world combined cannot disrespect God the same way as one individual rejecting the atonement of His blood. That's why His blood could cover and remove the entire sin of the world. Trust in Jesus Christ is necessary.

As we close the book tonight, the theme of the book of Isaiah was holiness, and God ends the book with a reminder for every human being that reads this book: you have a choice. It's this simple: don't let your sin keep you from God's love. God loves you and He wants to save you. Present yourself to Jesus and be willing to let His blood wash you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness—from all sin. Otherwise, you're going to face the eternal judgment that nothing in death or this life can ever escape.

As He said, it's the place where the worm does not die and the fire is never quenched. I don't think He could have given a more loving truth than to say this is what happens when you reject My Son, Jesus Christ. As the God and Father and Creator of all things, He said this is the way things will be. My Son can cover all sin and unrighteousness and remove it from you if you will place your faith and trust in Him. But if you willingly reject that, then you will be judged for all of the wickedness and evil that you've done. I have a place set aside for the fallen angels that chose to leave their heavenly abode, and you will join them in that place where the worm doesn't die and the fire never ceases.

That's heavy stuff, isn't it? But it's real love because it wouldn't be real love not to tell you about it. It's not a "fire and brimstone smash." That's love. It's no different than if we saw a young child reach their hand into an open flame. I pray to God every one of you would be so kind as to say, "Don't do that. You're going to get burned." Is there anybody in here that would let a child put their hand in an open flame and think that's a good idea? Why would we go upon the earth and not say something when people are willingly sinning and doing things that are contrary to the word of God and His plan? Jesus loves us and He has a different plan for your life—far more exceeding and abundant than anything you could ever hope or imagine. Amen.

Guest (Male): With that, we've now made it through Isaiah. We hope you got a lot out of that study and in a moment, I'll tell you what's next. You're listening to Pastor Matt VanderVen on His Perfect Love. Catch a replay when you visit hisperfectlove.org. We're also at oneplace.com, and look for us wherever you get your podcasts. We also have a mobile app. This is a great way to take Pastor Matt's teachings with you wherever you may go. You can learn more about the mobile app and start your download when you visit our website, hisperfectlove.org.

Thank you for your prayers and financial support. You can make a contribution to the ministry and send us your prayer requests through the website again at hisperfectlove.org. Those of you that live in the Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania area or will be visiting the area, we want to cordially invite you to join us for a worship service. Just like on the radio, Pastor Matt teaches verse by verse through the Bible here at Calvary Chapel Harrisburg West Shore.

Sunday morning services begin at 8:30 and 10:30. We have a midweek service on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM. You'll find us at 28 North Locust Point Road in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Go to ccharrisburg.org for more information. Tomorrow on His Perfect Love, we'll head over to Romans and begin a new series with Pastor Matt. It's going to be good. You'll want to be a part of it. Take my word for it. His Perfect Love is brought to you by Calvary Chapel Harrisburg West Shore.