Seize The Opportunity To Accept Jesus

Isaiah 55:1-13

Our Old Testament reading for today encompasses the whole of Chapter 55, a very moving passage with God reaching out to mankind, calling them to turn to Him.  In my view, this chapter is one of the most beautiful in the Book of Isaiah.

In the opening words of this passage we see the word “everyone” (vs. 1).  God’s call is for everyone, not just some.  He doesn’t just call those who are already good enough.  Everyone means just that. It does not mean merely one group of people.  Jesus’s salvation and kingdom are for everyone, all who are willing to come.  Jesus paid it all.  We don’t have to do anything but believe and accept His free gift.

If we listen and obey God, hearkening diligently as He says, that will bring us blessings (vs. 2 - 3).  Disobeying Him is to only bring curses upon ourself.  All those who come to Him in faith, He will make an everlasting, enduring covenant with.  The covenant that God made with David was that one of his descendants would forever remain on the throne.  That descendant is Jesus Christ.  By putting our faith and trust in Him, we become a part of that covenant (vs. 3-5).

We are invited to come to God, into His presence, any time.  We can come for forgiveness, for His guidance, for our petitions, and  just to be with Him (vs. 6).  God’s grace and mercy are available to everyone who seeks Him.  Call upon Him now, while He is available.  The door for salvation is open now, but it won’t always be.  There will come a day when it will be too late.  When we die, and one never knows when that may be, then it will be too late.  God pleads for you to call upon Him now, when He is right beside you.

When we seek God out and turn to Him, it must be accompanied with repentance (vs. 7).   God, through Isaiah here, tells us to turn from our sinful ways, forsaking them, and turn to Him.  Believe God, admit our sin, and desire His forgiveness.  We need to acknowledge that we are unable to be righteous on our own, and to throw ourselves upon His mercy.

Our thoughts and ways, and God’s thoughts and ways are totally different (vs. 8-9). His are so much greater, so much better and holier.  God’s grace is beyond our understanding.  The two don’t even come close.  Even the smallest and seemingly most insignificant thing God thinks or does is so much greater than what we could even imagine (I Corinthians 1:25).   Even if we don’t understand God’s will or His ways, we need to follow and obey.  His ways are perfect.  God knows what’s best for us much better than we can think we do.  Like the old hymn says, we need to trust and obey.

God designed the rain and snow to have a purpose, and that is to water the earth in order to bring forth crops for food.  When they come down from the sky they fulfill their purpose.  Likewise God’s Word, as is written in the Bible, will accomplish what He desires.  It will accomplish His spiritual purposes.  As we read in Hebrews 4:12, God’s Word is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.  We can trust that He will do what He says.

The last couple of verses in this passage (vs. 12-13) speak of creation giving praise to God in a very picturesque way - mountains and hills singing, trees clapping their hands.  Although most people today don’t give praise to God in any way, I believe that creation, such as the mountains and trees, do in their own way.  In God’s new creation here, during Jesus’s millennial reign, the effects of the curse of Adam will be reversed.  Thorns and briers will be replaced with beautiful firs and myrtle trees.

I’m sure that we all want to be a part of that day.  God is calling to you, to everyone.  Are you thirsty for Him?  It costs you nothing, but to accept His Son as your Savior.  Come, just as you are.  His hand is stretched out to you.