Isaiah 57 reminds me of Christ on the cross
between two thieves. Recall that one mocked Him, while the other
asked, believing He was the Savior, “Jesus,
remember me when You come into Your kingdom“.
The first was ignored, while the second heard the promise, “Truly
I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise“.
There are some people that seem to have contentment and some that
restlessly fight against everything. I believe all of this centers
around finding peace with God. In today’s chapter, Isaiah writes
to the people of Judah prior to the Babylonian captivity, but he is
also talking to us today. He begins, “The
righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken
away… to be spared from
evil. Those
who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in
death“. The way you view
death will impact the way you live life. Do you bring comfort or
confrontation to relationships? Isaiah writes to the turbulent,
“But…
you offspring of adulterers and
prostitutes! Who
are you mocking? At
whom do you sneer… you…brood of rebels, the offspring of liars“.
He is not talking about your parents, but your lord. Jesus said,
“He
who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me
scatters“.
I
know people that say they have no choice; they deny God’s freewill
and instead pursue only self-amusement. “You
burn with lust… you sacrifice
your children… Forsaking Me, you uncovered your bed… you made a
pact with those whose beds you love“.
Today so many groups are encouraging sexual freedom insisting it is
all just love. 1 Corinthians 6 teaches, “Whoever
sins sexually, sins against their own body“.
Knitting together and tearing apart will leave painful wounds that
sometimes never heal. The “consequence free” lie is the source
of much pain today. Isaiah adds, “You
went to Molek“. This was a
pagan god that required child sacrifice in worship. He continues,
“You wearied yourself”
and concluded, “It is
hopeless“. God asks, “Whom
have you so dreaded and feared that you have not… remembered Me?“
Isaiah
concludes by writing what I believe are God’s instructions to those
that have tasted God’s grace, “Build
up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of My
people“. Isaiah is given a
mission, “to revive the spirit
of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite“.
Who are the contrite? I believe it is those that recognize they
have personally wounded the heart of the Father. It is not those
sorry they got caught, but those that come to understand God’s
sorrow. Listen to the words of God, “I
was enraged by their sinful greed; I punished them, and hid my face
in anger, yet they kept on in their willful ways“.
Here is the good news, some of that group will turn to face the
Savior on the cross, believing He has paid their debt. “I
have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and
restore comfort… creating praise on their lips“.
For emphasis, He repeats this promise to those that ask to be
restored, “And I will heal
them“. But what about those
that continue to fight against everything that God calls holy? He
says, they “are like the
tossing sea, which cannot rest“.
John 14:27 Jesus said, “Peace
I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be
afraid“. We are
all guilty, but some will hear the prayer of Christ, “Father,
forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”
(Luke 23:34). Sadly Isaiah concludes with a word for the mockers,
“There is no peace
for the wicked“.
Peace with God is available today through the risen Savior. What do
you say to Him?