Sin Is Still Sin

Isaiah 5:18-25

Our Scripture passage today is from a message that the prophet Isaiah brought from the Lord to the people of Judah.  In it he speaks strong words from Yahweh against the people for the way they are living, how they have turned the clear-cut ways of the Lord upside down, and are going about their lives any way they wish, rather than following His ways.  Let’s take a look, and we will see that in many ways Isaiah’s words can apply to today, as well as then.

Isaiah opens our passage with describing how many people are parading their sins openly (vs. 18).  It is as if they are pulling a load of their sins with a rope upon a cart, dragging them around openly for everyone to see.  We see that today, as well.  For many there is no more shame for what they are doing.  What in the days of our childhood might have been done in secret, and spoken of shamefully, is now done in the open for everyone to see, and no one seems to mind.  Openly parading one’s mistress around town, openly laughing at how they cheated this or that company, getting away with huge amounts of money, and many other sins proclaimed for all to see and seemingly admire.  What the Word of God calls sin is openly broadcast on TV sitcoms with a laugh track going in the background.

Isaiah notes the taunts of the unbelievers as they say “Where is the judgment of God?” (vs. 19).  They dare to ridicule Him as they sin.  That is the same today, too.  Even some people who make a claim to be Christian might say that God doesn’t judge sin anymore.  They say that He is only a God of love, never of judgment, and that believers should never speak out against sin anymore.

As Isaiah continues his message from the Lord, he points out that there has been a reversal of the morality in society, a confusion of all moral distinctions (vs. 20).  People are calling good what is really bad and evil, and they are putting down as undesirable what is really good.  If we are honest and look around the world today, we can see this happening in many areas.  What is good and wholesome is called old-fashioned and square.  People who live good, righteous lives are openly mocked, while what is sinful is smiled upon.

When God calls something sin, then it is sin, whether society likes it or not.  When the Bible says it is evil, it is evil, no matter how many “religious” authorities say otherwise.  God is the final authority, not man.  We can try to dress it up, make it pretty, pour all kinds of sugar on it, but it is still sin if God says it is.

Isaiah saw a lot of arrogance against God and righteousness (vs. 21).  That behavior is accelerating today, as well.  There is certainly no fear of openly blaspheming on TV or in the movies.  Isaiah also calls out the corrupt judges and government officials for their sins, as they willingly pass judgment for a bribe (vs. 23).  This goes on today, more than we would like to admit.  Again, the belief that good is evil and evil is good prevails.

Just as in Isaiah’s day, the world today does not think that God sees any of this, if they even bother to give Him any thought at all.  God will not sit idly by forever (vs. 24-25).  The arrogance of people’s sins, and their blatant twisting around of right and wrong will be judged by Him.  Just as a fire will quickly ignite and burn up brush and tinder, so the Lord will come down upon them.  Just as when a tree or a plant has a rotten root, and the leaves and blossom wilt away and die, so the people will perish and not flourish.  People will suffer when they reject God’s laws and His Word.  His anger has been aroused.

Are we dragging around a cartload of sins that we refuse to give up?  The people in Isaiah’s day learned the hard way.  Without God and His Word as our guide and compass, we are headed for a breakdown, and much suffering.  God’s hand is stretched out still.  Will it be a hand of love and forgiveness if we come to Him in repentance, or will it be a hand of judgment as we mockingly go about in our sins?