“In that day the LORD Almighty
will be a glorious crown,
a beautiful wreath
for the remnant of his people.”
(Isaiah 28:5, NIV)
These words come as the prophet speaks of the “day of the Lord”, the day of judgment and mercy, when God redeems His people and puts an end to the wicked. As I read them, I was reminded that the greatest promise we have been given in salvation is the promise of closeness with God.
We can forget that, or pay only lip-service to it. I think it would be too much to say that we forget the Giver of salvation and think only of His gifts; but it’s possible that when we count the many gifts of salvation, we forget that foremost among them is an ever-nearer relationship with the Giver, Almighty God.
We rejoice in the forgiveness of our sins. We cling to the promise of eternal life and the new creation. We long for the fulness of our sanctification, when we will no longer be so weak and easily tempted. We marvel at the prospect of eternity and the foretelling of undeserved rewards. But in all of these things, we must not forget that the greatest reward is the presence of God Himself.
He is the crown for the redeemed. His presence is the light and glory of heaven. His company is the joy of eternity. His love is the sweetness of unending life. Maybe we come closest to understanding when we reflect on the gift of redemption that is our adoption as sons and daughters of the Most High. How wonderful beyond words to have a restored relationship with our Creator, to be His child and to rest in Him.