“High and Lifted Up” by Mark McGee
These are difficult times – times we know are going to grow even harder in the days and months to come. So, here are some words of encouragement as we walk together as the Body of Christ on earth.
The people of our planet have lifted themselves up high above everyone and everything, even the God Who made them. That is the nature of man to be high and lifted up that others may admire them, fear them, obey them. God has allowed this behavior to continue for thousands of years – thousands of hard years for His people – but the time of man is coming to a close. It will soon be God’s time – God’s time to be High and Lifted Up!
“For the day of the Lord of hosts Shall come upon everything proud and lofty, Upon everything lifted up— And it shall be brought low— Upon all the cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up, And upon all the oaks of Bashan; Upon all the high mountains, And upon all the hills that are lifted up; Upon every high tower, And upon every fortified wall; Upon all the ships of Tarshish, And upon all the beautiful sloops. The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, And the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; The Lord alone will be exalted in that day, But the idols He shall utterly abolish.” Isaiah 2:12-18
I love the Book of Isaiah. What a great prophet of God. Isaiah saw things in such an amazing way – a way in which we can also see. Isaiah saw things from God’s perspective. We look at the proud and lofty and are envious or afraid. We look at the loftiness of man’s accomplishments and are overcome with wonder and awe. God looks at the proud and lofty of the earth and sees sinful pride. He sees the day approaching when the loftiness of man will be brought low. He sees the day when He alone will be exalted. Isaiah saw the end of all things and was glad for it. We also see the end of all things and rejoice with him.
God is already Ruler of the Universe, so there is no one higher than Him. What then does it mean for God to be “high and lifted up?” It means that all of His creation sees Him for Who He is and worships Him for what He has done. This is a joyous hope for God’s people, but what about those who see themselves high and lifted above Him? What of that future time will they enjoy? None of it.
“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.” Revelation 20:11-13
When I think of God high and lifted up, I think of God on His great White Throne judging the people of all ages. The planet we now call home will flee from God’s Face and the dead, both small and great, will stand before God. The “books” the angels write on in Heaven will be opened and God will judge people according to their works. Every knee will bow before God and every tongue will confess that He is Lord (Isaiah 45; Romans 14; Philippians 2). That includes all those who were proud and lofty during their lives.
This year contains many surprises for all of us because of the evil that is growing stronger in our land. As the enemy reveals his plans, let us keep our eyes looking up for that day when God will be high and lifted up and the whole world will know and confess “that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” The Revelation of Jesus Christ 22:12-13
We can shout with the Apostle John – “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
“Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
Written by Mark McGee
Mark McGee is a career journalist and former atheist. He worked on the news staff of several radio and television stations (including Huntsville’s WAAY-TV from 1984-1996) and two large metropolitan newspapers. Mark was a reporter, correspondent, anchor, managing editor, executive producer, and news director during a four-decade career in news. Since retiring in 2009, Mark has worked as a communications director and consultant.
Mark has written three published books and 230 Ebooks. He also writes regularly for several Christian blogs. Mark also serves as Alabama Regional Director for Ratio Christi Campus Apologetics Alliance and works with students at the University of Alabama Huntsville.
Mark has been active in martial arts and self-defense training since 1961 and has been teaching from a Christian perspective since 1971. He continues to teach privately in the Huntsville area.
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