Repentant Backsliders Will Be Given God’s Peace, Which Means Inward Strength, Purpose, Meaning, Significance, And A Deep Sense of Fulfillment and Satisfaction. It Means Living a Victorious, Conquering, And Triumphant Life That Is Full of Meaning and Purpose. Do You Have the Peace of God?

The Repentant Backsliders Would Be Given a Glorious Future.

This Scripture is clearly describing a society far beyond any ever known on earth. God is giving an unmistakable picture of the kingdom that will be established in the future when Christ returns to earth. Note that the prophecy is addressed to Jerusalem, the afflicted city that has been battered by army after army, hardly ever knowing a moment of peace or comfort. God has wonderful news for this downtrodden city: it has been destined for a glorious future. This fact may stun and dumbfound many in the world; nevertheless, Jerusalem is to become the capital of the Messiah’s kingdom when He returns to earth. Note exactly what is said in these verses:

 

The Returning Backsliders Would Be Given a Glorious Future:

A Picture of The Savior’s Kingdom.

¹¹O my afflicted people, tempest-tossed and troubled, I will rebuild you on a foundation of sapphires and make the walls of your houses from precious jewels. ¹²I will make your towers of sparkling agate and your gates and walls of shining gems. ¹³And all your citizens shall be taught by me, and their prosperity shall be great. ¹⁴You will live under a government that is just and fair. Your enemies will stay far away; you will live in peace. Terror shall not come near. ¹⁵If any nation comes to fight you; it will not be sent by me to punish you. Therefore, it will be routed, for I am on your side.^{b 16}I have created the smith who blows the coals beneath the forge and makes the weapons of destruction. And I have created the armies that destroy. ¹⁷But in that coming day, no weapon turned against you shall succeed, and you will have justice against every courtroom lie. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord. This is the blessing I have given you, says the Lord.^[1] (Isaiah 54:11–17) 

A. The Citizens of The New Jerusalem Will Live in A City of Unparalleled Beauty and Value.

God, Himself, will build the city using only the finest and most valuable materials. The city will be so glorious that it will be indescribable. Thus, Isaiah uses the most precious stones on earth to picture what the New Jerusalem will look like. All buildings in the city will be constructed from precious jewels, and the foundations will be laid with sapphires. All the towers and pentacles will be made of sparkling rubies, while the gates and walls will be made of other precious jewels and crystal. Remember that all stones and rocks in the universe deteriorate and eventually waste away. But the sparkling jewels used to construct the Holy City will be incorruptible. Therefore, the chemical makeup of God’s incorruptible throne is unknown to man. A study of Revelation, both the Scripture and commentary, is helpful in understanding the New Jerusalem (Re. 21:9–23). 

B. The Citizens of The New Jerusalem Will Be Taught by The Lord Himself.

As a result, their hearts will be flooded with the peace of God. God’s peace suggests a victorious life free from the oppression of enemies, trials, and temptations. Also suggested are well-being, good health, and prosperity in all things. The peace of God means to be free from all restlessness, disturbance, instability, anxiety, distress, discouragement, depression, weakness, and any other feeling or emotion that creates problems for people. God’s peace means inward strength, purpose, meaning, significance, and a deep sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. It means living a victorious, conquering, and triumphant life that is full of meaning and purpose. Listen to what other Scriptures say about God’s peace: 

V  “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (Jn. 14:27).

V  “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33).

V  “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ro. 5:1).

V  “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us” (Ep. 2:13–14).

V  “Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Ph. 4:6–7).

V  “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven” (Col. 1:20).

V  “The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace” (Ps. 29:11).

V  “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them” (Ps. 119:165).

V  “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Is. 26:3).

V  “O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea” (Is. 48:18). 

C. The Citizens of The New Jerusalem Will Live in A Righteous Society, For the Lord Himself Will Establish a Fair and Just Government That Shows No Partiality or Favoritism.

There will be no prejudice or discrimination in the New Jerusalem. There will be no evil or lawlessness running rampant throughout society. Tyranny and violence will be gone forever. Within society, there will be nothing whatsoever to fear. The righteous, fair, and just society of Christ’s kingdom is exactly the kind of society that God admonishes us to be building today. 

D. The Citizens of The New Jerusalem Will Be Protected (Vv. 15–17a).

No nation will be allowed to defeat God’s people when Christ establishes God’s kingdom on earth. In fact, no nation will be allowed to assemble for the purpose of waging war. In the past, God raised up and used the nations as His agents to execute justice in the world. But in the Messiah’s kingdom, God will not allow an attack against His people. No weapon will be forged to be used in war. Not even a verbal attack will be allowed against God’s people. Peace will rule within the hearts and minds of people and within their social relationships. God will personally protect His people.

Even today, God promises security to His people. He promises to protect those who truly believe and follow Him. In all trials and sufferings, God is present with His people. He carries them or walks with them through every hardship if they call upon him. Even when they face death, He promises to be with them and to transfer them into His presence. Quicker than the eye can blink, true believers are taken from this earth into the presence of God Himself. 

V  “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33).

V  “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ro. 8:35, 37–39).

V  “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless, I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Ti. 1:12).

V  “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (2 Ti. 4:18).

V  “Let your conversation [conduct, behavior] be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (He. 13:5–6).

V  “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 Jn. 5:4–5).

V  “And behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of” (Ge. 28:15).

V  “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong on the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore, from henceforth thou shalt have wars” (2 Chr. 16:9).

V  “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them” (Ps. 34:7).

V  “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler” (Ps. 91:4).

V  “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day” (Ps. 91:5).

V  “He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord” (Ps. 112:7).

V  “As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even forever” (Ps. 125:2).

V  “When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet” (Pr. 3:24).

V  “Fear thou not; for I am with thee be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Is. 41:10).

V  “And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar [gray] hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you” (Is. 46:4). 

E. The Citizens of Jerusalem, as Well As All Other Believers, Will Have a Glorious Future in Jerusalem. This Promise Is Guaranteed by God’s Holy Word (V. 17b).

All these blessings are to be the heritage of those who serve the Lord. All true servants of God—genuine believers—will inherit the New Jerusalem, be taught by the Lord, and be flooded with His peace. And they will live in a righteous society under a fair and just government. Moreover, God Himself will protect them. These promises, this heritage, is guaranteed by God’s very own Word. 

V  “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all of them which are sanctified” (Ac. 20:32).

V  “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” (Col. 1:12).

V  “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ” (Col. 3:23–24).

V  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Pe. 1:3–4).^[2] 

Repentant Backsliders Will Be Given God’s Peace, Which Means Inward Strength, Purpose, Meaning, Significance, And A Deep Sense of Fulfillment and Satisfaction. It Means Living a Victorious, Conquering, And Triumphant Life That Is Full of Meaning and Purpose.

Do You Have the Peace of God?

---

^b 54:15  for I am on your side, literally, “because of you.”

^[1] Taylor, Kenneth Nathaniel. 1997. The Living Bible, Paraphrased. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.

^[2] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 2005. Isaiah: Chapters 36–66. Vol. II. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.