Your Happy Place

A series on Isaiah 9:6 – The Child of Prophecy
 – Prince of Peace
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Isaiah 11:6-9; Revelation 21:1-8 

[Jesus was a child of prophecy. The Christmas story in the Bible was predicted in many Old Testament prophecies but the centerpiece of these is Isaiah 9:6. It was written nearly six hundred years before Jesus’ birth. In this series we’re going to look at the meaning and implications of this amazing prophecy.]

 

When growing up, my family took many vacations in the Smokey Mountains as well as the Rocky Mountains. Both are beautiful and majestic in their own way. There is something calming and particularly peaceful about the mountains.

 

For many people, the mountains are their “happy place”. A place where you find peace and serenity. A quiet place where you can think without interruption. A place where you can reflect on life. A place where you connect with yourself and with God.

 

It’s hard to say where Isaiah’s happy place was, or if he even had one. However, he did have an encounter with God in the temple that ultimately led to his calling as a prophet. The Lord spoke to Isaiah, and he responded, “Here am I. Send me!”.

 

As a result, Isaiah was Judah’s prophet during a chaotic time. There was a threat of an impending coup by Israel, and Assyria was aggressively expanding. Despite this, Isaiah trusted in the Lord’s Messianic prophesies which gave him hope and peace.

 

In fact, the word of the Lord came to Isaiah about a newborn child that would be called the “Prince of Peace”. In this context, he prophesied a vision of a world filled with peace, where predators and prey would live together in harmony. He said that “a little child will lead them” to establish the Messianic kingdom.

 

Hundreds of years later, shepherds were watching their sheep one night when the birth of that “little child” was gloriously proclaimed by a “multitude of the heavenly hosts”. It was an announcement for the long-awaited Messiah to be born in Bethlehem.

 

¹⁴ “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”        NLT   Luke 2

 

“Peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased”. It sounds like a truly happy place. One that doesn’t depend on circumstances. A place where you could experience peace from God, with God and of God. A peace that “surpasses all understanding”.

 

⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.         ESV    Philippians 4

 

Like Isaiah, John also prophesied in Revelation 21 a vision of a future world. On this occasion, it’s when Jesus returns for the second time and dwells among us to establish his kingdom. In this vision, John drew a picture of peace.

 

⁴‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

It is here that “He will wipe every tear from their eyes”.     NIV

 

But this peace is not “pie in the sky” only to be experienced in the new Jerusalem. Jesus made the following promise of a gift which is still available for us today.

 

²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. NIV    John 14

 

Where is your happy place? Where do you connect with God?

 

Copyright 2025 Joseph B Williams

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BAM! It’s a Celebration!

Genesis 3:14-15

 

Have you ever watched a movie where in the beginning everything is going great? “Life is good” as they say. But then… the bad guy enters, and life turns upside down. One thing after another goes wrong as the villain gains power and wreaks havoc.

 

As you watch, first you begin to root against the bad guy. Then your feelings become a little stronger; maybe borderline anger. Finally you reach your limit when you find yourself wishing that something terribly wrong would happen to the villain.

 

And when it does, BAM! It’s a celebration! If you’re at the theatre the audience may even applaud and cheer.

 

The story of Adam and Eve is kind of like that. They are in the Garden of Eden in perfect harmony with each other, the world around them and especially with God. But then the serpent enters. He spins a few lies and all of a sudden, life is turned upside down.

 

When you think about this, does it make you angry? Do you even feel hatred for the serpent? He doesn’t care about Adam or Eve or God or you or me. He’s like the guy in the All State commercial who loves to create mayhem. That’s what the serpent does; death and destruction.

 

 

Finally, the Lord God enters to declare the consequences of all of their behavior. He directs His first comments toward the serpent. If you listen carefully, you can hear His angry, booming voice as He pronounces the final defeat of the snake.

 

“Because you’ve done this, you’re cursed, cursed beyond all cattle and wild animals,
Cursed to slink on your belly and eat dirt all your life. I’m declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He’ll wound your head, you’ll wound his heel.”            MSG

 

The serpent is doomed. But who is it that will wound the serpent’s head, or as it is translated in the NIV, “crush your head”?

 

These two verses are the first promise of Jesus. He will crush the head of Satan. He will have victory. Go ahead. You can stand up and cheer. Satan has been defeated. We have been delivered. The Lord is alive and still at work in us and through us.

 

BAM! It’s a celebration!