Sin separates us from God...but... (Part 2)
Hey all!
Wow! Here we are at Part 2...Hey that was kinda easy!
Anyway, in Part 1 we brought together the correlation of who/whom Isaiah (God) was speaking to in the past, and how He speaks the same things to us today. What is sad is that we react, respond, and behave just as the Israelites did those thousands of years ago. We saw that God’s hand of salvation is not shortened and that His ear is not deaf, but because of our sin, and because He is Holy, it causes a separation between us. Does that mean that because we sin He will never hear us? No! He is always open to “I’m sorry Lord!” and “I love You!” He will forgive us 70x7.
We pick up in verse 6 where Isaiah is describing the sin of Israel, and the decline and degradation of sin. He’s just finished saying in verse 4 that they “conceive evil and bring forth iniquity”. He goes on to describe the deep darkness (my words) of sin. This is more to those who are not saved, who have not experienced God’s amazing and saving grace.
Isaiah 59:6-21
Separated from God
5 They hatch vipers’ eggs and weave the spider’s web; He who eats of their eggs dies, And from that which is crushed a viper breaks out. 6 Their webs will not become garments, Nor will they cover themselves with their works;
WAYS TO AVOID SNAKEBITE
(Taken from a website called: “Survival IQ” the italics and BOLD are mine)
Follow these simple rules to reduce the chance of accidental snakebite:
Don't sleep next to brush, tall grass, large boulders, or trees. They provide hiding places for snakes. Place your sleeping bag in a clearing. Use mosquito netting tucked well under the bag. This netting should provide a good barrier. (or keep God’s Word close)
Don't put your hands into dark places, such as rock crevices, heavy brush, or hollow logs, without first investigating. (When it comes to sin, how about at all).
Don't step over a fallen tree. Step on the log and look to see if there is a snake resting on the other side. (Step on God’s Word, ask for Wisdom)
Don't walk through heavy brush or tall grass without looking down. Look where you are walking. (Let HIM guide your every step, once in that gait with HIM you can then look up).
Don't pick up any snake unless you are absolutely positive it is not venomous. (Flee from temptation)
Don't pick up freshly killed snakes without first severing the head. The nervous system may still be active and a dead snake can deliver a bite. (Remember who The One is that crushes the head of the serpent!)
The evil things of this world believe that they can wear their evil as a garment, ya’ know, for recognition. They believe that their works of evil are who they are; they cover themselves with its identity. It’s like being labeled in a way. There have been those who are/were evil who have been given a label, or who from fear, the world has seen the works they wear as evil, but the bottom line is, from a Spiritual sense, they are lost and some for eternity. The Charles Manson’s, The Saddam Hussein’s, the Adolph Hitler’s, all of these, unless they had given their lives to Christ are in and will be in eternal torment for eternity.
Identity is a big deal from a worldly stand point. They ask the same question (until they find THE answer), “Who am I? How do I fit in? And what the heck am I doing here?” Not just evil people ask this, people who are lost ask this, and people who are weak in their faith in Christ ask the same questions. I have a son who will be 30 this year, I’ve seen him go up for alter call after alter call. I’ve seen him cry and rededicate his life to Jesus at Promise Keeper events, but for some reason (actually for a couple reasons) he just can’t seem to let go. He has always battled with who he is and where he fits. I’ve told him over and over that his identity is only found in Christ, but again because he hasn’t fully let go, he doesn’t hear it. I know that when my son T.J. finally grasps that, and lets go as many of us have, he will be free, and will realize that he doesn’t need to conform to this world, but that he has been transformed by allow God to finally renew his mind. I have not given up hope on my son “T”, or any of my kids, because my wife and I can see God working, even in their rebelliousness, He has got them right where He wants them and where they will listen to His message of peace and freedom.
Their works are works of iniquity, And the act of violence is in their hands. 7 Their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and destruction are in their paths.
8 The way of peace they have not known, And there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace.
Again the word iniquity according to Webster’s dictionary is; “gross injustice, wickedness, sinful, outrageous.”
The word “sinful” struck me as I read the definition once again. But you see that’s the reason...the ONLY reason, it’s sinfulness. Think about back when you were one of those walking in darkness, I know for me, I look back and think of some of the things I did and said, and it amazes me. I remember being at family reunions and sitting with my older cousins as we would out do each other telling jokes, and me beating them all by telling jokes and using language that I think may have even shocked some of them.
I wish I could tell you that I’ve never said another bad word since I got saved, but that would be a lie. The times that I have though have been far and few between, and out of anger. When I have let a few those choice words fly, it’s grieved and embarrassed me, and what’s worse is that it grieves The Holy Spirit. But my point is, these people whose “works are works of iniquity, and acts of violence” and the rest, this is pretty much is all these kind of people know, they haven’t experienced God’s love, or at least not that they are aware of. Does God love these people? Yes! Does He want them to really be His own? Yes!
“Wasting and destruction are in their paths”, Wow, I have to think about that a minute. How much of life did I waste before I really began to walk with God, or at least began to see that there is no other path in life? I was saved at age 13, but I didn’t act saved until I was about 30. I think back to that gap, the things that took place in those 17 years, I ask myself; “Were they all bad years, were they all full of destruction as the text says above?” I have to say no, even in the hard times, there were glimpses of Jesus calling me back to His path. They may not all have been destructive, or full of destruction, but I guess the real question is; “Were they wasteful years?”
When I look back now in my weak moments, or in the moments when a fleeting thought comes to mind that says; “Man! If you knew then what you know now in regards to God’s gift of life and peace and joy! Why did you waste all those years Tony?” or the big one “If you had walked closer to God, your family would be walking closer with God now!”
I prefaced that last line of thought as “in my weak moments” in the “moments when a fleeting thought comes to mind”, the truth is that if I really think about all those years, all that time, it wasn’t wasted, it was growth. God’s plan is perfect for our lives; He takes the bad and makes it good. In my life, He has made up for more than those 17 years in last past 20 years of my life. Even in just the last 5 or 6 years, I have felt more complete in Him than I ever have. He will do the same for the lost, he will do the same for those who are living wasteful and destructive lives right now, if they will just let Him. Believe in The Lord Jesus Christ and you WILL be saved.
Father! Thank You for finding me. Thank You that You are the answer, Your path is perfect. I pray for those that are lost, those that haven’t got a clue of Your great love. I pray that we as Your children will be able to give them a glimpse of who You are as I know You put many in my path even during those 17 years, and even today. You are an awesome God! Amen!
In HIS Grip
Tony
Hey all!
Wow! Here we are at Part 2...Hey that was kinda easy!
Anyway, in Part 1 we brought together the correlation of who/whom Isaiah (God) was speaking to in the past, and how He speaks the same things to us today. What is sad is that we react, respond, and behave just as the Israelites did those thousands of years ago. We saw that God’s hand of salvation is not shortened and that His ear is not deaf, but because of our sin, and because He is Holy, it causes a separation between us. Does that mean that because we sin He will never hear us? No! He is always open to “I’m sorry Lord!” and “I love You!” He will forgive us 70x7.
We pick up in verse 6 where Isaiah is describing the sin of Israel, and the decline and degradation of sin. He’s just finished saying in verse 4 that they “conceive evil and bring forth iniquity”. He goes on to describe the deep darkness (my words) of sin. This is more to those who are not saved, who have not experienced God’s amazing and saving grace.
Isaiah 59:6-21
Separated from God
5 They hatch vipers’ eggs and weave the spider’s web; He who eats of their eggs dies, And from that which is crushed a viper breaks out. 6 Their webs will not become garments, Nor will they cover themselves with their works;
WAYS TO AVOID SNAKEBITE
(Taken from a website called: “Survival IQ” the italics and BOLD are mine)
Follow these simple rules to reduce the chance of accidental snakebite:
Don't sleep next to brush, tall grass, large boulders, or trees. They provide hiding places for snakes. Place your sleeping bag in a clearing. Use mosquito netting tucked well under the bag. This netting should provide a good barrier. (or keep God’s Word close)
Don't put your hands into dark places, such as rock crevices, heavy brush, or hollow logs, without first investigating. (When it comes to sin, how about at all).
Don't step over a fallen tree. Step on the log and look to see if there is a snake resting on the other side. (Step on God’s Word, ask for Wisdom)
Don't walk through heavy brush or tall grass without looking down. Look where you are walking. (Let HIM guide your every step, once in that gait with HIM you can then look up).
Don't pick up any snake unless you are absolutely positive it is not venomous. (Flee from temptation)
Don't pick up freshly killed snakes without first severing the head. The nervous system may still be active and a dead snake can deliver a bite. (Remember who The One is that crushes the head of the serpent!)
The evil things of this world believe that they can wear their evil as a garment, ya’ know, for recognition. They believe that their works of evil are who they are; they cover themselves with its identity. It’s like being labeled in a way. There have been those who are/were evil who have been given a label, or who from fear, the world has seen the works they wear as evil, but the bottom line is, from a Spiritual sense, they are lost and some for eternity. The Charles Manson’s, The Saddam Hussein’s, the Adolph Hitler’s, all of these, unless they had given their lives to Christ are in and will be in eternal torment for eternity.
Identity is a big deal from a worldly stand point. They ask the same question (until they find THE answer), “Who am I? How do I fit in? And what the heck am I doing here?” Not just evil people ask this, people who are lost ask this, and people who are weak in their faith in Christ ask the same questions. I have a son who will be 30 this year, I’ve seen him go up for alter call after alter call. I’ve seen him cry and rededicate his life to Jesus at Promise Keeper events, but for some reason (actually for a couple reasons) he just can’t seem to let go. He has always battled with who he is and where he fits. I’ve told him over and over that his identity is only found in Christ, but again because he hasn’t fully let go, he doesn’t hear it. I know that when my son T.J. finally grasps that, and lets go as many of us have, he will be free, and will realize that he doesn’t need to conform to this world, but that he has been transformed by allow God to finally renew his mind. I have not given up hope on my son “T”, or any of my kids, because my wife and I can see God working, even in their rebelliousness, He has got them right where He wants them and where they will listen to His message of peace and freedom.
Their works are works of iniquity, And the act of violence is in their hands. 7 Their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Wasting and destruction are in their paths.
8 The way of peace they have not known, And there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace.
Again the word iniquity according to Webster’s dictionary is; “gross injustice, wickedness, sinful, outrageous.”
The word “sinful” struck me as I read the definition once again. But you see that’s the reason...the ONLY reason, it’s sinfulness. Think about back when you were one of those walking in darkness, I know for me, I look back and think of some of the things I did and said, and it amazes me. I remember being at family reunions and sitting with my older cousins as we would out do each other telling jokes, and me beating them all by telling jokes and using language that I think may have even shocked some of them.
I wish I could tell you that I’ve never said another bad word since I got saved, but that would be a lie. The times that I have though have been far and few between, and out of anger. When I have let a few those choice words fly, it’s grieved and embarrassed me, and what’s worse is that it grieves The Holy Spirit. But my point is, these people whose “works are works of iniquity, and acts of violence” and the rest, this is pretty much is all these kind of people know, they haven’t experienced God’s love, or at least not that they are aware of. Does God love these people? Yes! Does He want them to really be His own? Yes!
“Wasting and destruction are in their paths”, Wow, I have to think about that a minute. How much of life did I waste before I really began to walk with God, or at least began to see that there is no other path in life? I was saved at age 13, but I didn’t act saved until I was about 30. I think back to that gap, the things that took place in those 17 years, I ask myself; “Were they all bad years, were they all full of destruction as the text says above?” I have to say no, even in the hard times, there were glimpses of Jesus calling me back to His path. They may not all have been destructive, or full of destruction, but I guess the real question is; “Were they wasteful years?”
When I look back now in my weak moments, or in the moments when a fleeting thought comes to mind that says; “Man! If you knew then what you know now in regards to God’s gift of life and peace and joy! Why did you waste all those years Tony?” or the big one “If you had walked closer to God, your family would be walking closer with God now!”
I prefaced that last line of thought as “in my weak moments” in the “moments when a fleeting thought comes to mind”, the truth is that if I really think about all those years, all that time, it wasn’t wasted, it was growth. God’s plan is perfect for our lives; He takes the bad and makes it good. In my life, He has made up for more than those 17 years in last past 20 years of my life. Even in just the last 5 or 6 years, I have felt more complete in Him than I ever have. He will do the same for the lost, he will do the same for those who are living wasteful and destructive lives right now, if they will just let Him. Believe in The Lord Jesus Christ and you WILL be saved.
Father! Thank You for finding me. Thank You that You are the answer, Your path is perfect. I pray for those that are lost, those that haven’t got a clue of Your great love. I pray that we as Your children will be able to give them a glimpse of who You are as I know You put many in my path even during those 17 years, and even today. You are an awesome God! Amen!
In HIS Grip
Tony
posted by In His Grip at 3:57 PM
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