Hear The Word

“Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.” Isaiah‬ ‭1:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The first chapter of Isaiah, is where my “read through” has me this Easter/Resurrection Sunday. Wow!

“Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.”  ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭1:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Not the post you would imagine on the most celebrated day in Christianity. You all are still asleep; soon to awake and prepare with new clothes, church attendance, family gatherings with huge meals prepared some days ahead. Only one other as big or bigger - Christmas. 

“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭1:11-12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We sing; we dance; we worship and feel good for it; praising God with our lips but our hearts are far from Him. Obedience is not considered in the planning. Trying to make everyone happy for the day; the congregation; the family; especially the kids! 

But God? We think we are pleasing Him but are we? The children of Israel thought so too with their celebrations; but look!

“Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.” ‭Isaiah‬ ‭1:13-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Pretty plain!  He’s hidden His eyes. He will not hear our prayers!

In all of your planning and celebrations, have you included repentance? The key factor! 

Most celebrate Him taking away our sins, but where is the remorse? Where is the brokenness? Where is the repentance?

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalms‬ ‭51:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Will you today examine your heart? Will you ask God to show you the sin that lies hidden within? Or will you go through this day of hiding eggs and over indulgence; giving little thought to the sins, you refuse to deal with while cleaning up the dishes of your feast? Hours later,  all evidence of the days hard work attended to, but the hardness of your heart remains!

“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭1:16-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The following verse; everyone knows; everyone has heard; everything about Christendom hangs on:

 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭1:18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

But do you know the next?

“If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” Isaiah‬ ‭1:19-20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We have refused! We have rebelled!

“How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water: Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.” Isaiah‬ ‭1:21-23‬ ‭KJV‬‬ (Read the rest for yourself. It gets far worse!)

Oh church, we have so missed it!

This day, humble yourself before a Holy God, in repentance for the sins you hold so dear. 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John‬ ‭3:16-19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If you really DO “believe” - you obey!

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John‬ ‭14:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Repent while there is still time!

Even so - MARANATHA!