By Campus Missionary Mary Rowley
Based on Isaiah 25:6-9
When I think of a feast, the first thing that comes to mind is Thanksgiving. Typically, my parents and I get together with our extended family and have a delicious Midwestern meal – ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, a variety of casseroles, and my aunt’s famous rice krispy treats. As delicious as the meal is, sometimes sitting at one table with our whole family is a challenge. We argue (or very pointedly don’t argue), or we make nasty comments about people who aren’t present. It feels like a dark veil has been cast over our company, and it’s hard to get along under it.
This passage of Isaiah begins with a description of an amazing feast. The food and drink sound incredible, but the feast is for “all peoples.” We certainly don’t get along with all peoples. Would we want to go to a feast with all peoples? I’m sure we would accept, but with hesitation, maybe even with dread. We’d make sure to get there early so we wouldn’t have to sit by “that” person.
It’s a good thing God understands human nature. The passage continues with this: “And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever.” This covering, this veil, I believe that it is not only death – it is the culture of death, the attitudes and perspective that we live with every day. It’s the snide comments and petty arguments and the way we treat other human beings like they don’t really matter. On the Last Day, God will take all of that away. He will swallow up death and everything that goes along with it.
At this feast, there will be no sadness, no anger, no tears, no yelling, no death or the culture it’s created. The food will be good and the atmosphere even better because there will be nothing but gladness and rejoicing. As we look forward to that day, we can take action now. We can be forgiving instead of accusing and joyful instead of depressed, because we know what is to come.