“Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; Though they be red like crimson, they shall be like wool. If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land, but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword. Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 1:18-20
Is this it? Are we living in the generation that sees the end of this world as we have known it? Some say so, but is it true? When the disciples asked Jesus when the end of the age would be, He told them, “No one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone!” The question today (and every day) should be, “What is the Lord saying to me today?” One worthy consideration is to examine how the Lord spoke to people in the days of the Old Testament.
The prophet Isaiah was sent by the Lord to say to the Lord’s people, “Sons I have reared and brought up, but they have revolted against Me.” (Ch. 1:2). “Sons who act corruptly! They have abandoned the Lord.” (Ch. 1:4). “Your land is desolate, your cities are burned with fire, your fields—strangers are devouring them in your presence; It is desolation, as overthrown by strangers.” (Ch. 1:7). The people sought to placate God with their religious activities. “I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts. They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them.” (Ch. 1:14). “Cease to do evil, learn to do good.” (Ch. 1:16,17). Then the Lord explains how to go about doing these things.
He first gives a chance to His family, “Come now!” (Ch. 18). If we do come to the Lord, it will be at His timing, not ours! “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be white as snow.” We can be forgiven! As of today, the Day of Judgment has not arrived. Thank God it is still the Day of His Grace! Not only that, but we can be fulfilled. “If you will consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land.” The time to deal with the Lord is when He is dealing with us, and He is obviously dealing with us today!
Our gracious God not only provides His family a chance for renewal, but He also announces a choice for the foolish. “If you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” (Ch. 1:20). Jesus dealt with the issue of the reliability of the Father’s Word with His disciples in Matthew 7:24ff by using the analogy of the foundation for a house. If one builds his house on a rock, even if floods come and winds blow, the house will stand. But if one builds his house on sand, when the winds blow and floods come, the house will fall, and great will be the fall of it! Each must ask himself, “On what am I building my life?”
So what about the reliability of Scripture when it comes to the future? Once again Isaiah speaks up. “Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken!” (Ch. 1:20). Untold numbers throughout history have put their trust in the truthfulness of God and His Word, and the testimony of their lives have been an encouragement to others to trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5,6). What about you? What about me?
Jon Moore