The offer of God’s compassion and pardon!

Welcome to “Word from The Center” MONDAY, a devotional word from the Center of our faith, Jesus Christ, with reflections on His Word. I’m Gregory Seltz. Today’s passage is from the Prophet Isaiah, chapter 55, verses 6-7, where he says,

Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon him while He is near;  let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

People today are running around demanding apologies and retribution. It’s a very difficult time in our country because many don’t truly believe in “right and wrong” anymore, yet they are still certain that their accusations against others are just. Even worse, most really have no idea as to what should be done to change things for the better. Sinful people have a bad habit of pointing fingers at others and demanding that they change, as if those accusations somehow get them “off the hook.” Our text for today doesn’t let anyone get away with such things. The main question is, “What does God think about our lives, according to His standards?” And, when we fail to meet those standards, the next question becomes, “Is there any hope?” Isaiah calls us all to account before the Lord in thought, word, and deed, but also then invites us to return to God in repentance and faith. Real blessings only happen there.

I was reminded about how destructive it can be when those questions are ignored. When I was in Germany several years ago, a young woman (not much more than 21) led us through the Dachau death camp. It was a sobering experience. It’s hard to imagine how human beings could do such things. Many Germans have had to struggle with that fact too. How could such things have happened during World War II in a country that was so “progressive” intellectually and culturally? How indeed! But, sadly, I learned that, instead of individually asking question about why so many Germans had fallen away from God, they preferred to find scapegoats, blaming citizens of places like Dachau by projecting all that “sin” on them. This young woman was one of those scapegoats. She wasn’t even born when the atrocities happened, yet many Germans had “tarred and feathered” her merely because she was born in Dachau. They imagined, “It was those Dachau people, you see, not the rest of us.” As a result, young girls like her were forced to live in shame so that others could feel satisfied to go about their merry way. The problem? The main questions were still unanswered.

We, as Americans, are dealing with many issues today and the real problem is that we don’t see how far we’ve fallen away from the things of God and the moral truths of the Bible. Many think that politics can “save” us. But politics won’t ultimately help a people who feel no need to get right with God on His terms. Like Isaiah, Jesus reminds us of that urgency when He declares that whoever is angry with his brother is subject to judgement as a murderer (Matthew 5:21-22). He also says, “Whoever looks lustfully at a woman has committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). Jesus finally concludes that, in order to meet God’s standard, you must “be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). Then, when you begin to feel the real weight of your own sin before God, Isaiah urges us to “seek the LORD while He may be found.” Don’t give into the temptation to falsely cast your guilt on others. Don’t give in to the temptation to shift blame to your parents, your teachers, or “the system.” Sin, your sin, is so much more serious than all of that.

But when that crushing reality hits, it’s time to realize that God has a message for sinners like you and me. There is one who took away the crushing blow of your sin and mine as only He could. While it’s wrong to try to cast your guilt upon other sinners, Jesus, your Savior, invites you to bring all of your sin to His cross. Isaiah tells us to seek the LORD. Jesus calls us to put our faith in Him (John 14:1).

I don’t know if we’re going to come out of this malaise today because I don’t yet see “a turning to God” movement. Most people aren’t asking, “What does the Bible say about these things?” or, “What does God think about our lives, about my life?” Instead, people feel confident about condemning the sins and faults of others, while remaining oblivious to their own. In the midst of this, take Isaiah’s prophetic advice for today, “Return to the Lord,” and be honest before Him “for He will abundantly pardon.” Then, in response, live lives of grace and truth toward others. That’s not just a start; that’s the only thing that will last.

PRAYER – Dear Lord Jesus, give us confidence to trust in your “exposing” word, as well as your “saving” word. Then give us courage to live lives graciously in Your name for others. AMEN.