RAMBLING: Isaiah

Listened to Charles Price and his sermon on
Isaiah 6 was most challenging and enjoyable. Mr. Price stated something that
really hit home with me. He said there is a place and time to preach "Woe unto
you...sermons however what we need to focus on is bringing Christ to the people
in a Christ-like manner. He referred to Isaiah who cried out to God that he was
unclean, a sinner and therefore unworthy to serve God. God cleansed him. God
then sent the prophet on a mission of failure note the
following:

9 And he said, "Go and tell these
people,

‘No matter how closely you listen, you'll never
understand. No matter how closely you look, you'll never see.' 10
Make these people close-minded. Plug their ears. Shut their eyes.
Otherwise, they may see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with
their minds, and return and be healed."
\pard *Isaiah 6:9-10
(GW)

What a discouraging
assignment to go and preach God's Word only to be told people will not listen
but in fact will turn a deaf ear to God's message. They will refuse to
acknowledge God's truth. For their sins they will be sent into captivity and how
many times were they sent into captivity. There is a modern day parallel and
that is that those who preach the gospel of Christ their message often fall on
deaf ears, it is rejected outright. It is sad to note that many who turn a deaf
ear are some who consider themselves Christians. Yet Isaiah, who committed
himself to God and His work served faithfully.. As already mentioned those who
turned a deaf ear to God ended in captivity and one has only to read the Old
Testament to see how often God's people ended up in some foreign country as
slaves. Are we not in danger of eternal captivity, away from God because we
refused to listen to Him? To follow Him? To live for Him? The prophet is deeply
troubled by this and asks,"

11 I asked, "How long, O Lord?" And he
replied,Isaiah 6:11
(GW)

God's
answered, ""Until the cities lie in ruins with no one living in them, the houses
have no people, and the land is completely desolate. 12 The
Lord will send his people far away, and a large area in the middle of the land
will be abandoned. 13 Even if one out of ten people is left in
it, the land will be burned again. When a sacred oak or an oak is cut down, a
stump is left. The holy seed will be the land's
stump."Isaiah 6:11-13
(GW)

We must remember that it
was their (Israelites) choice, not God's, to turn away from Him. It was their
continual sinfulness that not only separated them from God but landed them in
captivity. How many prophets had God sent to the people urging them to leave
their sinful ways and how often had the people turned a deaf ear to God's
message, how often had they killed many of the prophets whom God sent?
(see Matthew
23:37-39; Luke 11:48-53). Homer
Hailey writes, "The question might be raised as to why the Lord, knowing that
hardening would be the result, would preach to the people at all. Note that it
is the nation, "this people," that will completely reject the message. But out
of the nation God had said there will be left a remnant (1:9); The individuals
who make up this remnant will hear. Jehovah never looses sight of the
individuals who will hear His voice and do His will." (A Commentary On Isaiah
pg.78 Homer Hailey) Today the Gospel more than the messenger is abused. Yes,
there are those messengers (preachers, committed christians in general) who are
also abused for their faith in Christ who serve as Isaiah did. As seen in the
above passage God tells Isaiah there is hope. A remnant will remain faithful. I
recall a tree that had been cut down leaving only the stump and much later I
noticed a new growth growing from that stump which would eventually grow into a
new tree. The faithful few are referred to the "stump" who will remain faithful
to God and continue to serve Him. I recall as a youth how the Lord's church was
growing at a tremendous rate then gradually the growth slowed. Mankind became
more "liberated" from the "old fashioned ways", new ideas and philosophies
emerged that contradicted God's Word. Cults arose that challenged Christianity,
offering paradise on earth only to end in destruction to so many. Many would
find that the "easy way" would end in disaster for them. What is the old
proverb? The road to hell is paved with good intentions though I seriously doubt
that the cult founders really had good intentions. They were misguided by false
hopes and ideas just like the Israelites of old and many today. The question
asked so often is how can a God of love send anybody to hell? God doesn't send
anyone to hell one sends themselves there by rejecting Christ Jesus as Lord and
Saviour. This may not be acceptable to many but this is what Christ teaches
(see Matt.25)

More and more people globally, in our
communities, in our churches reject Christ or choose to follow a "watered down"
version of "christianity" . Christ has a message for those.
21 "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord!' will enter
the kingdom of heaven, but only the person who does what my Father in heaven
wants. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in
your name? Didn't we force out demons and do many miracles by the power and
authority of your name?' 23 Then I will tell them publicly, ‘I've never known
you. Get away from me, you evil people.' The question I
ask myself is why did Isaiah commit himself to God's will so readily? I believe
the answer lies in the fact that Isaiah loved God and sought forgiveness of his
unworthiness because he recognized his sinfulness
and unworthiness and sought reconciliation with God whom he recognized as holy.
To serve God we must be holy 13 Therefore,
your minds must be clear and ready for action. Place your confidence completely
in what God's kindness will bring you when Jesus Christ appears again. 14
Because you are children who obey God, don't live the kind of lives you once
lived. Once you lived to satisfy your desires because you didn't
know any better. 15 But because the God who called you is holy you must be holy
in every aspect of your life. 16 Scripture says, "Be holy, because I am holy." 1 Peter 1:13-16
(GW). We also serve Him because we love
Him...right? Without true love, holiness, commitment, without being completely,
unconditionally surrendered to God we cannot live for Him or serve Him. Isaiah
was concerned about his relationship with God and sought to improve it and he
did. He set an example for us to follow, he was even willing to sacrifice his
life. We might not have a vision as Isaiah did (or maybe we have) but we know
God's will. So whats keeping us from fulfilling it? Maybe the question we need
to ask ourselves what price are we willing to pay to follow Christ? I believe I
have already answered that. Maybe you have "costs" of your own that you gladly
paid to follow Him. Then I heard the voice of
the Lord, saying, "Whom will I send? Who will go for
us?"

Isaiah 6:8 (GW)

16 The eleven disciples went to the mountain in Galilee
where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they bowed down in
worship, though some had doubts. 18 When Jesus came near, he spoke to them. He
said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 So wherever
you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach them to do everything I have
commanded you. "And remember that I am always with you until the end of
time."

Matt 28:16-20
(GW)