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Let Us Reason Together
Isaiah 1:18-20 "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 are red
like crimson, they will 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"
First, when the LORD says that we should come and reason together, it does not
mean that this is a negotiation or a give and take proposition. It clearly is
the laying down of facts by God by which if we comply and obey, we will receive
blessings; but if we refuse to obey, there will be consequences.
Notice that this statement and promise from God is conditional upon our response
to His commands. Every word of God in a sense is a promise. God's words are
statements that provide an expectation of hope for us. Knowing that His words
are truth and will never fail, we have confidence that His word is something
we can put our trust upon and confidence in. Let's face it; God has an excellent
track record.
The promise to us is conditional upon our acceptance of the terms God has put
forth. These are not man made rules to follow, but since God has spoken through
His word, it is necessary that we learn His word to know what the expectation
God has of us.
God has given every generation the promise of blessings for obedience, and punishment
for disobedience. It is sometimes perplexing to see how people react to such
a simple thing. When we realize that obedience to God is for our good, and that
God will bless us exceedingly above what we expect, why would anyone trade the
blessings for a moment's pleasure of sin? It really does not make sense. At
least not to a spiritually minded person. Those of the world and who are separated
from God because of their sins are more interested in continuing their sin and
in some cases increasing the wickedness of their minds. The Bible teaches that
these can only have an expectation of the wrath of God.
Only God can purge our sins and remove them. As in our text though they be red
like crimson (stained as it were with blood) it shall be as wool (clean and
pure). As we read the Bible we find that Jesus died upon the cross bearing the
sins that we possess. We were guilty, and our punishment was death; yet Jesus
took upon Himself that punishment. And now by working in conjunction with God's
gift, and our faith, we can believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and believing
on Him, we can have eternal life. This belief is more than just a mental acknowledgement
that Jesus is God, it is an obedient faith that responds to what God has done,
and it is a declaration of our faith when we put it into action. Actions actually
do speak louder than words; they are the proof that we truly believe. Let us
thank God for His wonderful gift that provides our salvation.
By Carey Scott
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