THE STANDARD; THE RENEWAL OF ALL THINGS

The Standard – All Things  Made New;

In the instruction manual for our souls lurks a shadowed promise of relief from overwhelming loss.

Isa. 59:19 declares, When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

 I know, because of the context of this chapter, that this scripture is prophetic in nature, predicting the coming battle of Armageddon when a flood of nations will rise up against Israel in the last days and our hero comes back to save her, but this scripture is also alive and relevant to our journey, our story, right here, right now.

After recently experiencing the enemy coming in “like a flood” and destroying the life of one of my dearest friends and causing cataclysmic upheaval in his family and friends, I thought it best to remind myself and others of what exactly could possibly have the healing power to mend my broken heart and fill the huge hole that this left right smack dab in the core of my existence…

He was 41 years old and left some amazing children, age’s babies to college, a beautiful wife and people that adored him.

The day it happened, he was to meet me to discuss our ministries; he loved what Daddy God was doing with me at Glorious Outlaw and he was all in. He had just incorporated a nonprofit ministry for the rescue of human trafficking victims and wanted my advice on how to proceed. I wanted in on what he was doing.

A roadside accident changed everything; the enemy came in like a flood… I heard once that if you ask the wrong questions, you get the wrong answers. Hurt? Hell yes, it hurts, but I refuse to ask why. But I will ask: please help me as I grieve, empower my response, and then ask what next, Papa.

There is a part of my history that I don’t have a memory without him in it. He was an amazing friend and man of God. He is in my heart so we, together, will carry on causing disturbance in the kingdom of darkness for as long as I suck air. We will be together soon, my friend.

The enemy does what the enemy does,

(BTW, you know those people who believe in you are a rare breed, I don’t have many but I sure appreciate the ones I have. So should you. Don’t assume they know how you feel, Go tell ‘em how much they mean to you. (On occasion, remind them again.)

Now, to say that when the devil comes in “like a flood” and that the Lord will lift up a “standard”… A “standard?!!?     And to call it a “standard”, like this is a normal, typical, average, just a run-of-the mill process for the application of healing and restoration. Something so profound that it can fill the enormous hole left in our hearts? And it is just standard… What the hell is that all about?  

I must admit, on the surface, that doesn’t sound like a set of compassionate instructions to alleviate pain and fill the void inside. This sounds   more like a condescending survival theme taught by a heartless school marm in the midst of an outbreak of cholera in the 1800″s

Then the evil triplets show up, “Would have”, “Could have”, and “Should have”, trying to magnify the chasm of loss and turn it into a trapping pit prison complete with shackles, bars; and constant torment … 

until …

What I want to give you is a clear anchor of the soul, a revelation on the “standard” that Jehovah lifts up when the enemy comes in, and rest assured, my friend, he will come in, giving you “no quarter “, no mercy.  Different degrees of evil, same goal, to kill, steal, and destroy.

This word “standard”, according to the original language, is a progressive verb. It means to flee, to escape, but it also mean to fly to the attack, to put to flight, to cause to disappear. This makes me envision a two edged sword. 

There is a time of grief, a time that all you want is to escape the agony, your hope is in disarray a vital part of your heart has been stolen. The God given power of passion that fuels your faith has been seemingly decimated.
And, there does come a time that you do retreat into solitude trying to make sense of it all. Seems like you a drowning in a flood of emotions.

Losing a loved one is like an earthquake that trembles through the very core of your existence, leaving you grappling with the shards of your shattered reality. The finality of death can seem like a cruel mocker of our beliefs, a relentless force that seems to have the last word, no matter how deeply we cling to our faith.

In the midst of this seismic upheaval, overwhelming grief can envelop us, making the promises of renewal and resurrection feel distant and almost unreal.

In the face of substantial loss, whatever that loss may be, we often find ourselves enveloped in a darkness that obscures the light of our faith.

The notion of a restored world, where everything is made new, seems like a distant dream.

This pictured hope gets overshadowed by the harsh reality of our suffering.

This can lead some to a place of resignation, where we accept despair and view death as the ultimate victor.

Yet, amid this turmoil, a powerful truth calls out to us: we can hear it in the distance calling us to choose life.

It is a quiet, but powerful, encouraging inner voice located right in the center of our being. It is the voice of the standard asking you for permission to flood your inner being with light.

What if we do choose life? What if we dare to shift our gaze, to look up to regain our sight, as Jesus did when He was to feed 5000 with a couple of fish and few loaves of bread? (Mt. 14:13). And start to see the brilliance of life. (I figure if Jesus had to look up to regain His sight from time to time, then we too should adopt this practice.)

What if, with the help of the Spirit of Grace, we redirect our God-given passion from the shadows of death to the vividness of life?

Even, as we are reeling from the physical loss that ensued, when the timing is right, and if the decision to look up is made, that still small voice turns into a thunderous rumble of a threefold promise proceeding  from the creator Himself producing a flood of hope that supersedes the destructive force of grief.

This “standard” comes completed with enough force to fill every gap that grief tries to exploit.

What is this threefold magnificent hope… What has the power to shift our passion from heart torn grief to eager anticipation? 

1. Reconciliation, the re-establishment of our relationships; (2 Corinthians 5:19), 2. Restoration, the bringing back to a former or original condition or position; (Hebrews 8:12) and 3. The renewing of all things;  (Revelation 21:5);

This is where the transformation begins. In this pivotal moment, when we open our hearts to the promised reality of of this three fold promise –  “behold, I am making all things new”.

If you allow this, it will create a shift. That’s what hope does. It may start as a trickle, but, as we choose to allow it in — it floods our being, rushing in like a mighty river to fill the void left by our loss.

If we allow it, this standard turns grief into a motivational force that reinforces our resolve. It reminds us of who we are, what we are called to do, and the power that lies within us to avenge our loss.

Jesus’ promise of return—”I’m just going away for a bit”—is the key to this transformation. His anticipated return will usher in a grand renewal of all things.

Imagine a future where everything you hold dear is restored; all your loved ones are by your side; justice is served; and a grand feast awaits. The implications of this promise are nothing short of staggering.

Such a revelation should radically alter our perspective on death and loss.

If we listen with compassion to our own hearts, we will uncover a hope so profound and wild that words can scarcely capture its essence.

God has embedded this hope deep within us, a whisper of promise that directs our passion to flood our hearts with hope in times of grief and despair.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 reminds us, “God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart.”

Our deepest dissatisfaction and the agony of the world are rooted in a profound longing for God’s kingdom—a desire for the renewal of all things.

You were created for this very renewal. God has given you a heart that yearns for His kingdom—not the vague, nebulous idea of a cloudy heaven, but the tangible reality of a world made new.

Recognizing this truth about you is crucial. When was the last time you looked in the mirror and reminded you, “Good morning; you have a heart for the kingdom, and everything will be made new”?

This realization sheds light on many aspects of our lives. It explains why we feel anger, struggle with addictions, and yearn for justice.

It also clarifies the sense of hopelessness, cynicism, and defeat that can creep into our lives.

The resurrection life you received from God is not a passive existence; it is adventurously expectant, eager to embrace what comes next with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?”

The standard that floods in is a reminder of what is promised, Hope is the illuminated image of confident expectations of good to come.  

We know who God is and who we are: His beloved children, destined to inherit an incredible promise. We also realize that the suffering of this present time is insignificant compared to the glory that will be revealed.

Imagine a future morning where sunlight streams through your window, birds sing in the garden, and the scents of summer drift on the breeze. You awaken feeling youthful and whole, free from all tormenting mental attacks , bodily pain and fatigue have disappeared.   Laughter and the sounds of running water fill your senses. Your family and friends are calling to you to join them, and you know it will be a wonderful day.  

This vivid hope is the anchor for our souls, as in Hebrews 6:19: “We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go.” This is the standard that floods our hearts, heals our souls, and motivates our bodies.

This hope is the only force strong enough to overcome the heartache of this world. It promises renewal, the restoration of all we love, and a kingdom beyond our wildest dreams.

As we journey through life, let us do so with the expectation of adventure, the realization of intimacy,  and a childlike wonder seeking beauty. 

Listen to your heart and choose to let the promise from our Father God of total restoration flood our souls with a force that invigorates our resolve, reestablishes our purpose, and reignites our passion. 

We are called to promote this eternal kingdom of love where we will be reunited with  our loved ones, ALL past mistakes are corrected and ALL things are made new.

You see, the enemy might come at you “like” a flood, but according to John 7:38, We are the true ones who are in charge of “THE FLOOD”…

Oh, by the way, this is just … “STANDARD”. 

Just a thought