Isaiah 1:4-6
“Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with
iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they
are utterly estranged. Why will you
still be struck down? Why will you
continue to rebel? The whole head is
sick, and the whole heart faint. From
the sole of the foot even to the head, here is no soundness in it, but bruises
and sores and raw wounds; they are not pressed out or bound up or softened with
oil.”
Read the
Scripture above once more, what is the Holy Spirit speaking into your mind and
heart, are we not that nation, an are we not that people? Have we not been instructed by the apostle
Peter, “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and
if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the
gospel of God?”
(1 Peter 4:17) You
and I are told often that God is love, and we would be wise to enter into His
love, but it is only one of His attributes, He is also just and holy and
righteous, and those attributes require His judgment.
Do you recall who came out to John the Baptist? It was the big guys; the leaders of the Jews,
the Pharisees and Sadducees, coming for baptism. And this is what John said to them; “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath
to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to
yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from
these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the
root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut
down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew
3:7-10, ESV) As a person who attends
church, maybe you’re the big guy, the pastor, deacon, a teacher, or just a pew
sitter, what would John be saying to you?
God has never looked to your flesh to obey His commands, but that was what
these Pharisees and Sadducees were attempting to accomplish; however God is
looking for His children to be broken, to have a broken and contrite heart.
You will recall how often the children of Israel ran to Egypt for help,
and Egypt is the flesh, it places faith in anything other than God. The prophet Isaiah has this word for all who
rely on their flesh; “Woe to
those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots
because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not
look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord!” (Isaiah 31:1,
ESV) Before you dismiss this Scripture
as not for you, what is your flesh running to, your skill set, your education,
your ability to make money, or maybe it’s money, or even the nation you live in
and it’s vast military; who or what do you run to?
We in the Church would be wise to listen and act on the prophets words; “The whole head is sick, and the whole heart
faint.” For once again we find our world in this position,
every person looks to his own interests and does what is right in his own eyes,
with no regard for God.
From the Back
Porch,
Bob Rice
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