In life we all have times of crisis or pain where things go wrong. Damage is done. Is your marriage in trouble, has a breakup left you in tatters, a betrayal made you cry in anguish? Our self-talk can be, ‘how will I rebound?’
Israel was in captivity and a very broken state, lamenting their captivity in Babylon. But God had good news, news of hope for them. They will surely rebound and rebuild despite the depth of the damage done. These words were written for us today too, in Christ they are fulfilled!
In this, my painting in oils, I have portrayed the prophet’s garden stated in Isaiah 61:11. May we flourish as it does, and as we put off the old ways also; see those dying weeds. (Note: I have also shared a key tip from how I painted this, from my Van Gogh unlocked series, in the video below).
Isaiah said, the soil makes things bud. Seeds are sure to sprout in a garden. So too, righteousness and praise will spring forth to the nations through you Israel!
In other words, he will save his people through his righteousness. They will rebound, rebuild and return. Friends, it may be a long journey home in what you face, but there is hope in Christ. I sense for someone crying out to God as you read this, Father God is saying, ‘you will get there.’
God called king Cyrus in righteousness (see Isaiah 45) so the Jews could be freed. Jesus delivered us in his righteousness, so we are saved, and can live righteous by faith.
Turn to Christ and live in his ways today. You will rise again. Nothing can stop you! Everything grows in God’s Garden, in his vibrant church.
And let us remove the weeds, put off the old ways of fighting, malice, bitterness and envy. Peter the apostle said, ‘for you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.’
Mark Rusic was born in Melbourne and has a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. He became a missionary to many, suffering hardship and poverty on Madura Island in Indonesia, in 1990 for about four years. He worked as a pastor-life coach with Hope International Ministries from 2002 to May 2023, playing a key role in raising up leaders and elders for the local Melbourne Hope church, which lead today. Mark has also been active in conducting yearly trips to remote Indigenous communities, bringing teams for training and outreach, which he initiated from 2015. He also established a salt and light ministry to empower saints of influence in the marketplace from 2017.
Mark is also an artist and an author and has written two books which are both a collection of his own paintings, photography, and poetry. These include ‘Iconic Melbourne of Australia’ and ‘Iconic Animals of Australia- With a voice to release your giant potential within,’ which are available now on booktopia.com.au and at leading book retailers. He has been counted among some of Australia’s best authors on several occasions through Dymocks since 2014 and continues to be a motivational speaker in various community groups, organisations, and churches.
He is currently pioneering his itinerant ministry to bless Indigenous people and empower the body of Christ, while working as an artist, author and speaker.