Isaiah 24:4-9

⁴ The land dries up, it withers; the world languishes, it withers. The elevated of the people of the land languish, ⁵ and the land is corrupted beneath its residents. Because they have transgressed laws; they have passed by a statute; they have broken a permanent covenant. ⁶ Therefore a curse devours the land, and the residents in it suffer for their guilt. Therefore residents of the land burn, and a man of smallness is left. ⁷ New wine dries up; a vine languishes. All who were merry of heart sigh; ⁸ joy of tambourine has stopped. The noise of a jubilant one has ceased; joy of lyre has stopped. ⁹ They do not drink wine with song; strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.

party’s over

Isaiah speaks from God’s heart, warning his people that they are living to party, and soon the party will be over. While God’s people were busy living for themselves, transgressing laws, ignoring statutes, and breaking his permanent covenant, the LORD pleaded with them through the prophets. But there came a day when the prophets’ words were fulfilled. The party was over. Time to pay the bill. Those who had lived to party found that they could not party any more.

God wants us to enjoy life. But he wants us to be careful not to make our enjoyment the sole purpose of our lives. Judgment day is coming, and we will be held accountable for everything that we say and do. Jesus gives us a reason for living that will stand up in the scrutiny of judgment. He calls us to follow him. When we do so, we find that there is reason to rejoice even when the party is over.

LORD, position us in Christ. Give us his commands as our reason for living. Keep us from wasting our lives on the satisfaction of self.